dicker
UK: ˈdɪkə | US: ˈdɪkər
vi. to bargain or haggle, especially over small amounts
n. petty bargaining or haggling
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The word "dicker" originates from the Latin "decuria," meaning a bundle of ten hides (animal skins), which was a common unit of trade in medieval Europe. Over time, the term evolved to refer to the act of bargaining over such bundles, eventually generalizing to mean any petty haggling. The shift from a specific trade term to a broader verb reflects the historical commercial practices where small-scale bargaining was prevalent.
The farmers spent hours dickering over the price of the sheep.
She refused to dicker and paid the asking price for the antique vase.
In some cultures, it’s expected to dicker at markets to get a fair deal.
He grew tired of dickering with the stubborn salesman.
The two merchants dickered amiably, enjoying the ritual of negotiation.