This section is from the "A Complete Dictionary of Dry Goods" book, by George S. Cole. Also available from Amazon: A complete dictionary of dry goods and history of silk, cotton, linen, wool and other fibrous substances,: Including a full explanation of the modern processes ... together with various useful tables.
Retail. A word derived from French retailler, "to cut again"- from re, again and tailler, to cut; whence also comes our word "tailor."
 
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