/ ˈfɑːmə(r); NAmE ˈfɑːrm-/ noun
a person who owns or manages a farm
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French fermier , from medieval Latin firmarius , firmator , from firma fixed payment, from Latin firmare fix, settle (in medieval Latin contract for), from firmus constant, firm. The current sense originally denoted a bailiff or steward who farmed land on the owner's behalf, or a tenant farmer.