A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1581-1692
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Fermer, -ier, n.1 Also: fearmer. [Late ME. fermer (1487), AF. fermer, F. fermier, med. L. fermarius. Cf. Fermour n.]
1. A farmer of dues or imposts. 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 219.
The laitt impost laitlie raisit vpoun all Scottis clayth cumand to France be the Kingis fermieris 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 114.
This was often the caisse with the fermers of the customes 1655 Nicoll Diary 167.
The excyse wes set out in ferme … the fermeris overbidding [ane] another
2. A tenant occupier of land. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 18.
Gif thy fermer puts anie guilde in the lands pertaining to the King 1692 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs IV. 647.
To call eight fearmers … who best wnderstood for apprisseing of the saides corns
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"Fermer n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fermer_n_1>
