fermour
Middle English
Alternative forms
- ffermer, fermor (both rare)
Etymology
A remodelling of Old French fermier (from Medieval Latin firmarius) after ferme (“lease”) + -our.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fɛrˈmuːr/, /ˈfɛrmur/
Noun
fermour (plural fermours)
- A tax collector entitled to retain their proceeds for a fixed fee.
- A steward or bailiff (an overseer of an estate)
- A lessee or tenant (who a property is leased to).
Descendants
- English: farmer
- → Yiddish: פֿאַרמער (farmer)
- Scots: fermer, fairmer
References
- “fermǒur, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.