Costermonger,
coster, or
costard is a
street seller of fruit and vegetables, in London and other British towns. They were ubiquitous in mid-
Victorian England, and some are still found in markets. As usual with street-sellers, they would use a loud sing-song
cry or chant to attract attention. Their cart might be stationary at a market stall, or mobile (horse-drawn or
wheelbarrow). The term is derived from the words
costard (a now-extinct medieval variety of large, ribbed
apple) and
monger; i.e., seller.