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: 1400-1511, 1590, 1657-1693
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Fermour, n. Also: fermor, farmor. [ME. fermour (1382), fermor (1420), ad. med. L. fermarius. Cf. Fermer n.1 2.] A tenant farmer. 14.. Acts I. 357/2.
A fewfermar may nocht mak a fermour of ony lande bot it be first gevin vp to the first ourlord and he sal mak him fermour or malar 1476 Acts Lords Auditors 47/2.
The said landis … to be browkit & joisit be him, his fermouris & tennandis 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 106.
Ther is nocht ane servand in the Knokhall that aw seruice to your Lordschipe sene tha ar fermouris and the toune sett in steilbov c1590 Fowler I. 22.
Fame … dois liue as fermour in the revenewis and possessionis of Eternitie 1657 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 442.
If thair be … ane law dischairging taxmen to import such comodities quhairof they ar farmoris 1693 Greyfriars Interments 75.
George Brown, fermor
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"Fermour n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fermour_n>
