Farmer

(anciently FERMOR.) [L. Lat. firmarius; L. Fr. fermtr, qq. v.] In English law. One who held or hired lands for a term, (ad firmjam^ on payment of a rent; (prmdii conductor.) 2 Bl, Com. 318. Spelman, voc. Firma.

A lessee for life

years, or at will.

Termes de la ley, 6 Co, 60, Lord Mountjoy's case.

Hence, by derivation, the modem meanings, — a lessee or hirer of land for cultivation; a cultivator of hired land; a cultivator of land generally. See Farm. A lessee of other things than land. A lessee may be said to be & farmer of whatever thing he has in lease.

Dyer, C. J., Plowd, 196.

Stat. Marlebr, c. 23, [24,] cited ibid. See Ferm^ Fermor, To FARM LET. [L. Lat. ad firmam locare, to let to farm.J In conveyancing. Words of operation in leases, introduced at an early period in England. Dimisi, concessi^ et ad firmam tradidi; have demised, granted, and to farm let. Co. Litt, 45 b. 2 Bl. Com, 317. They are still generally retained, although not indispensable to the effect of a demise. 1 Steph, Com. 476, 477. The English expression, to farm let, is clearly taken from the Latin, the order* even, of the words being literally followed; so closely, indeed, as sometimes to convey a wrong idea of the meaning. Thus, "to farm" is treated as a verb, and defined " to yield a return or rent." Holthauss, It is, however, obviously merely a very literal translation of the Latin words ad firmam, which mi^ht be more accurately as well as intelligibly rendered, **for a farm," that is, for a term. See Farm^ Firma^ Ad firmam. The expressions "to put to farm," (ad firmam ponere,) "to give to farm," (ad firmam dare,) occur in records of the reigns of William Rufus, and Henry I. Spelman, voc. Firma,