\Traf"fic\, 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. ["u]bermachen
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.
2. To trade meanly or mercenarily; to bargain.

\Traf"fic\, v. t.
To exchange in traffic; to effect by a bargain or for a
consideration.

\Traf"fic\, n. [Cf. F. trafic, It. traffico, Sp.
tr['a]fico, tr['a]fago, Pg. tr['a]fego, LL. traficum,
trafica. See {Traffic}, v.]
1. Commerce, either by barter or by buying and selling;
   interchange of goods and commodities; trade.
         A merchant of great traffic through the world.
                                               --Shak.
         The traffic in honors, places, and pardons.
                                               --Macaulay.
Note: 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.
2. Commodities of the market. [R.]
         You 'll see a draggled damsel From Billingsgate her
         fishy traffic bear.                   --Gay.
3. The business done upon a railway, steamboat line, etc.,
   with reference to the number of passengers or the amount
   of freight carried.
{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.