n. [ Cf. F. trafic, It. traffico, Sp. tráfico, tráfago, Pg. tráfego, LL. traficum, trafica. See Traffic, v. ] 1. Commerce, either by barter or by buying and selling; interchange of goods and commodities; trade. [ 1913 Webster ]

A merchant of great traffic through the world. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The traffic in honors, places, and pardons. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word, like trade, comprehends every species of dealing in the exchange or passing of goods or merchandise from hand to hand for an equivalent, unless the business of relating may be excepted. It signifies appropriately foreign trade, but is not limited to that. [ 1913 Webster ]

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2. Commodities of the market. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You 'll see a draggled damsel
From Billingsgate her fishy traffic bear. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The business done upon a railway, steamboat line, etc., with reference to the number of passengers or the amount of freight carried. [ 1913 Webster ]

Traffic return, a periodical statement of the receipts for goods and passengers, as on a railway line. --
Traffic taker, a computer of the returns of traffic on a railway, steamboat line, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Trafficked p. pr. & vb. n. Trafficking ] [ F. trafiquer; cf. It. trafficare, Sp. traficar, trafagar, Pg. traficar, trafegar, trafeguear, LL. traficare; of uncertain origin, perhaps fr. L. trans across, over + -ficare to make (see -fy, and cf. G. übermachen to transmit, send over, e. g., money, wares); or cf. Pg. trasfegar to pour out from one vessel into another, OPg. also, to traffic, perhaps fr. (assumed) LL. vicare to exchange, from L. vicis change (cf. Vicar). ] 1. To pass goods and commodities from one person to another for an equivalent in goods or money; to buy or sell goods; to barter; to trade. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To trade meanly or mercenarily; to bargain. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exchange in traffic; to effect by a bargain or for a consideration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being disposed of in traffic; marketable. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who traffics, or carries on commerce; a trader; a merchant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of traffic, or trade. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Railroad Accounting) Any unit of the total obtained by adding the passenger miles and ton miles in a railroad's transportation for a given period; -- a term and practice of restricted or erroneous usage.

Traffic mile is a term designed to furnish an excuse for the erroneous practice of adding together two things (ton miles and passenger miles) which, being of different kinds, cannot properly be added. Hadley. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]