Dickering

/ˈdɪkərɪŋ/ verb (present participle), noun

Definition

The act of bargaining or negotiating, especially in a prolonged or tiresome manner; haggling over terms or price.

Etymology

From 'dicker' + '-ing' (present participle suffix). The gerund form emphasizes the ongoing, often tedious nature of negotiation that characterized hide traders haggling over bundles.

Kelly Says

The fact that we call boring price negotiations 'dickering' comes from hide traders who literally haggled over bundles of ten leather skins—some deals must have taken forever!

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