1. a merchant who deals in dry goods such as salted or dried foods, pickles, spices, and other preserved provisions
Usage: chiefly British; archaic or historical
2. a dealer in chemical products, dyes, and other industrial materials used in manufacturing
Usage: chiefly British; archaic or historical

Examples

• The drysalter's shop on Market Street sold everything from pickled herrings to dried herbs.
• In the 18th century, a drysalter was an essential tradesman in most towns.
• The drysalter supplied local textile manufacturers with dyes and chemical compounds.
• She inherited her father's drysalter business, which had been in the family for generations.
• The drysalter kept barrels of salted fish and casks of preserved vegetables in his warehouse.