merch

Etymology

Clipping of merchandise.

noun

1. (informal) Merchandise (“goods which are or were offered or intended for sale”).
   His playful point of view on youthful American sportswear, expressed in boxy mohair jackets with graphic resin bubble buttons and tomboy T-shirt dresses in superfine chiffon as bright as tangerine sorbet, is backed up with what stores would describe as the merch: easy scoop-neck cashmere sweaters in a mix of colors, lightweight T-shirts and sheared mink Army caps. February 15 2007, Eric Wilson, “Babes in Label Land”, in New York Times
   1. (especially in entertainment, sports, marketing) Merchandise (“goods connected with an entity such as a team, band, work of fiction, etc”).
      Many musicians make merch you can only get if you join the fanclub. 2012, Jesse Cannon, Todd Thomas, Get More Fans: The DIY Guide to the New Music Business
      With almost two months until Inauguration Day, fans who were "With Her" (or are still "With Her") can grab Clinton merch — now at deeply marked-down prices. 11/15/2016, Sam Reed, “Still Fired Up? Hillary Clinton Merch Marked Down to Move”, in Hollywood Reporter
      The merch is proof of how much the sentiment resonates with people. October 19. 2019, “'OK Boomer' Marks the End of Friendly Generational Relations”, in NY Times

verb

1. (slang, rare) To merchandise.
   Maligned by rockers, misunderstood by critics, and merched by Madison Avenue, rave may be the only vital youth culture remaining. 1995, SPIN, volume 11, number 1, page 10
2. (slang, Chicago) To provide proof.
   And I can merch on my homie, I'm used to ridin' 'round by my lonely 2014-11-13, “Killa” (track 3), in Young Pappy (lyrics), 2 Cups: Part 2 of EveryThing, 0:56