-mə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English fermour, fermer, from Middle French fermer, fermier lessee, renter, from Old French, from ferme lease + -ier -er — more at farm
1. : a person who pays a fixed sum for some privilege or source of income: as
a. : one that obtains that right to collect taxes, customs, excises, or other duties, paying a fixed sum and retaining the moneys collected
b. obsolete : a lessee or renter
c. : the lessee of a government monopoly
2. : a person who cultivates land or crops or raises livestock: as
a. : one that as steward, bailiff, or agent cultivates or supervises the cultivation of the lands of another
b. : one that rents or leases land for cultivation : tenant farmer
c. : a person whose primary occupation is the raising of crops or livestock — see gentleman farmer ; compare rancher
d. : a person engaged in a particular kind of farming
fruit farmers
a leading dairy farmer
3. : a person that agrees to perform certain duties for a fixed sum ; specifically : one that agrees to keep babies or paupers for a fixed sum per head
4.
a. : an ignorant rustic : yokel , bumpkin
b. : a clumsy stupid fellow : dolt
c. slang : a green hand inexperienced or incompetent in the trade at which he is working
5. : a variation of twenty-one in which the object is to draw cards totaling sixteen in value ; also : the dealer in this game