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)

1. A tax collector entitled to retain their proceeds for a fixed fee.
2. A steward or bailiff (an overseer of an estate)
3. 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.