noun
purveyor to the government or Imperial Household
Historical term for a merchant or supplier officially appointed to serve the shogunate, a domain, or the Imperial Household. Now mainly encountered in historical contexts.
江戸時代、御用商人は幕府に物資を納めていた。
In the Edo period, purveyors supplied goods to the shogunate.
御用達 is a broader term for an official supplier or purveyor, often used in modern contexts for shops with a royal warrant. 御用商人 specifically refers to the merchant or trader role.
Compound of 御用 (official business, government service) and 商人 (merchant). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term was used in the Edo period for merchants with official appointments.