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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.

Fewferm(e, Feuferm(e, n. Also: feufirme, few farm. [OF. feuferme, Anglo-L. feudo-, feudifirma.]

1. The tenure of land or other property in feu. (Cf. Feferme.) 1457 Acts II. 49/2.
Gif the tenandry happynnis to be in warde in the kingis handis the saide tenande sall remane with his feuferme vnremovyt payande to the king siklik ferme 1483 Acta Aud. *123/1.
Duncan [producit] a letter of fewferme vnder the sele of the said William fader 1496 Douglas Chart. 162.
To be pait … at … Witsvnday and Mertimes in wintir, … in the name of annuale rent of fevferme allanerly 1534 Misc. Spald. C. II. 189.
We … sall mak thame sicker … of the set and fewferme he hes of oure saidis landis and lordschip 1565–6 Treas. Acc. XI. 459.
Ane signatour of fewferme maid to Alexander Hume of certane landis 1597 Acts IV. 133/1.
The infeftment of few-ferme and all vther rycht and title to the saidis landis to be null and of nane awaill 1641 Stirling Chart. 119.
The charter of few ferme grantet be vmquhile King Robert the secund to the burgessis … of Stirling

b. In the phrase in few ferme. Cf. Few n. 1 b.(a) c 1400 Newbattle Chart. (Reg. H.).
Landis quhilk he haldis in few ferm of the abbot 1482 Peebles B. Rec. 191.
[The baillies have] set the common kylle in fewferme to Jhon Rychartson 1485 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 32.
Alexander Irvin … in few ferme has lattin to me … the landis of Fulȝemond 1541 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 109.
The baillies thinkis expedient to tak fra the sisteris of the Senys thair arrable croft … heretablie in fewferme 1576 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 26.
Ane heretabill possessour of ane half nettis fischeing … haldin in fewferme heretabillie of the said communitie 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Varda.
The keiping of the aire havand lands … in few-ferme, … perteinis to the superiour(b) 14.. Acts I. 40/2.
Gif ony man lattis his lande in feuferm wythin the burgh 1537 Liber Dryburgh 282.
To haue sett in assedatioun and in feu ferme and heretage heritablie dimittit 1586 Reg. Cupar A. II. 294.
The … fermes … being sett in feu-ferm and the teindis in lang takkis 1592 Reg. Great S. 117/2.
To have gevin … and in perpetuall feufirme and heretage lattis to the said Thomas … all and haill [etc.]

c. Attrib. with duty, land. 1491 Acts II. 225/1.
Gif the said are haue na blanchferme nor fewferme landis to sustene thaim on 1638 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 440.
The feu maillis after specefeit which are the few ferme dueties contained in the old infeofment 1664 Gifford Zetland Islands 71.
By and autour the same few farm duty allenerly

2. The payment made by the tenant of a feu. 1500 Stewart Mem. 82.
Takand securite for the payment of xxx^ti sex pundis for the dowbilling of the fewferm of the said landis 1567 Reg. Privy S. I. 226/1.
The gift of the feuferm aucht to his gude grace of the landis of Cullard 1580 Douglas Corr. 25.
Payment of the sowme … restand awand to ws of the males, fermes, fewfermes, dowlingis of few-fermes, … and vtheris dewteis of certane landis 1621 Acts IV. 681/1.
Dowbland the samyn fewferme att the entrie of the air 1642 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 151.
The few-maills, few-fermes, caynes, customes, and utheris rents 1654 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 321.
All … the lands belonging to the late Bishoprik of Galloway, … with the fewfermes, fewdewties, caynis, customes and casualities