‖ métayer
(metɛje)
Also 9 metayar.
[F. métayer:—med.L. medietārius, f. medietās half: see mediety, moiety.]
A farmer who holds land on the métayage system. Also attrib. as in métayer system, métayer tenancy.
| 1776 Adam Smith W. N. iii. ii. I. 473 A species of farmers known at present in France by the name of Metayers. 1804 Edin. Rev. IV. 321 The system of rural economy in Hindustan, closely resembles..the metayer system. 1856 Crauford in Encycl. Brit. XII. 691/1 Rural labourers [in Japan] were occupants or at best metayers. 1875 Maine Hist. Inst. vi. 163 Metayer tenancy. 1886 A. Weir Hist. Basis Mod. Europe (1889) 110 Dauphiny, where the worst kinds of metayer farming obtained. |