Basic Guidelines For English Spellings
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1To buy up (commodities, especially food) in order to resell at a profit in the same or a neighbouring market.
2To sell on (commodities so bought) at a profit.
Late Middle English. From Anglo-Norman regratier, Anglo-Norman and Middle French regrater (French regratter) to buy up (commodities, especially food) in order to resell at a profit in the same or a neighbouring market, further etymology uncertain and disputed. Compare post-classical Latin regratare.