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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.

Ferme, n. Also: ferm, feirm, feyrm, fearm. [ME. ferme (c 1300), OF. ferme, med. L. firma. Cf. Firme n. and Farm n.]

1. The condition of (land) being let at a fixed rent. Usu. in the phr. to let (or set) to ferme. 1381 Douglas Chart. 29.
Our systir … has set to ferme till vs … all hir thrid of the landes 1399 Melville Chart. 16.
[I,] Ihone of Maluill, … hes sett and to ferme hes lattin to my lovit cusing … all my part of the lands of … the Myre 1423 Reg. Great S. 11/2.
Be it knawyn … us … til haff set and til ferm lattyn til our lwvit chapellan [etc.] 1464 Peebles B. Rec. 152.
The balyais … has set and to ferm lattyn … the Quhyt Auche … dorand thair willis 1475 Lennox Mun. 104.
To haff sett and to male and ferme lattyn … all and halle my landis of the Hangatschaw 1493 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 338.
The saide day the aldirman sett and to ferme leytt … the sondais fische

2. The sum or amount payable as rent for land.Frequently a payment in kind, esp. in grain, and sometimes distinguished from a payment in money.sing. 1483 Acta Conc. II. Introd. 133.
That Johne of Craufurd sall … pay … the ferm and cane fowlis of the landis of the Pirrotholme 1485 Acta Conc. 105/2.
Margret grantis that scho set the said landis to the said Thomas for siluer and na ferme 1505 Lanark B. Rec. 14.
Payand yerlii tharfor … vj d. for the Kyngis feyrm 1532 Crim. Trials I. 162.
Ane man, havand … ane hundreth pundis worth of gudis, steilbow and ferm of that ȝere alanerlie except 1551 Hamilton Cat. 98.
Quhay takis ouer sair mail, ouer mekle ferme or ony blake maillis, fra thair tennands 1566 Reg. Cupar A. II. 35.
Payand … fyftyne bollis, ane pec, of gude sufficient bere for thair ferme of the samyn a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cx. 8.
Sum with deir ferme ar hirreit haill That wount to pay bot penny maillplur. 1392 Lennox Mun. 47.
To the payment of the fermys in maner beforwrytyn, fermly and sekyrly to do and to pay 1423 (1430) Reg. Great S. 38/2.
The fermys and the frottis in the menetyme tane in the principale some of na maner of waye to be contyt 1456 Hay I. 123/21.
This the resoun for quhy … the lordis takis thair rentis and fermes of thair men and thair tenandis 1489 Acts II. 219/2.
Thir Lordis vnderwrittin to bring in the kingis properte and caswelte siluer, fermez, nolt, wedderis [etc.] 1520 Red. Bk. Menteith II. 370.
All males, fermes, gressumys, mertis, … and all vthir dieweteis … that pertenis … to hir hienes 1552 Soc. Ant. II. 414.
The fermez, teyndis, and caynefoulez aucht & wont to be payit to the abbay 1588 Exch. R. XXI. 321.
The fermes, caynis, customes, and deweties of the croip and yeir of God [1587] 1612 Marischal Coll. Rec. I. 125.
The rest of the fermes of Petmedden shall be imployit for buying of good bookes to augment my bibliothek c1650 Spalding I. 203.
He … causis mak proclamatioun … commanding all his Majesteis loyall subiectis not to obey the covenanteris maillis, fermes, nor dewteis

b. In phr. to let, or set, for ferme. Cf. sense 1. c1420 Wynt. ii. 367.
In husbandry for ferme … He set thai landys 1446 Reg. Cupar A. I. 125.
Be it kend … vs … to haue set and for ferm to haue lattyn al and syndry our landis of Innerychtny 1502 Curle Coll. (Reg. H.) 27 April.
Ws George … bischop of Dunkeld to haif set and for ferme lettin … al and hale the fermes and teind schawis … of Bonkle and Prestoun 1515 Edgerston Writs MS. (Reg. H.).
The said Walter … setts & for ferme & maill lattis … all & haill half landis of Westir Rariche

c. plur. Sums received from custom dues. 1554 Haddington Treas. Acc.
The fermez of thair small custummis of the trone

3. Grain paid in rent. 1604 Urie Baron Ct. ii.
The peckcaman saill se that na dust be grund amangis his ferme 1634 Ib. 74.
The said day Magnus Milne at the milne of Cowie is ordeanit to sie the ferme cleine sheilit 1636 Misc. Spald. C. V. 225.
It is statuit that ilk miller sall bring in the fermes within thair suckin to the girneris for the crope 1635 1671 Forbes Baron Ct. 283.
It is … ordainit that the haill tennentis … sall mack thair fearm of guid cornes … and be frie of dust or stones

4. The farming out of a tax or impost. 1655 Nicoll Diary 167.
The excyse wes set out in ferme … the fermeris overbidding another

5. Attrib. with corn, land, silver, steding, toun, victuall. See also Ferme bere, Ferme mele. 1547 Misc. Spald. C. V. 309.
The ferme corns of Westwod … of the xlvj ȝeris crop 1484 Acta Aud. 140/1.
To tak inquisicioune … gif the xxxij akiris … be of the ferme landis of the Dronne, or of the cote landis or of the mylnelandis of Dronne 1538 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 112.
Jonat Denistoun is rentalit in sax s. aucht d. of fermeland callit the Hynde land 1562 Liber Dryburgh 300.
Totas et integras terras nostras vocatas lie ferme landis … jacentes in villa et territotio de Myretoun 1527 Liber Aberbr. 479.
Paying yearly … 10s. for ferm silver 1564 Prot. Bk. J. Drummond 55.
Fyve lib. … of thair ferme siluer of Ower Cardeny 1559 Inchcolm Chart. 97.
[They] com … and renuncit and ourgaif the malingis and ferme stedyngis 1609 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 470.
Villas et terras de Fermetoune de Glenkindie 1476 Acta Aud. 48/1.
The withhaldin fra him of xiij chalder … of ferme vittale 1614 Urie Baron Ct. 13.
Abrahame Forfar, being persewit for his ferme victuall of the cropis 1612 and 1613 ȝeiris