To the best of my knowledge(?) it originally meant 'lease holder' - to farm out. The change possibly came between the 15th and 16th centuries but I'd love someone to correct me on this. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon Barlow" <barlow@candw.ky> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 4:25 AM Subject: Re: [OEL] tenants rights > > The word 'farmer' only came in slowly (and meant something else > > originally) > > Eve McLaughlin > > > Excuse my ignorance, but what did "farmer" mean originally? And, from when > till when (roughly) did the change occur? > > Gordon Barlow > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > Going away for a while? > Don't forget to UNSUBSCRIBE! > OLD-ENGLISH-L-request@rootsweb.com > >

In message <005101c40f25$f0c40000$14d0fc3e@oemcomputer>, "norman.lee1" <norman.lee1@virgin.net> writes >To the best of my knowledge(?) it originally meant 'lease holder' special kind - the ordinary lease for a fixed period might forbid subletting. the farm lease specifically envisaged this, and whatever sums the 'farmer' could screw out of people. > - to farm >out. The change possibly came between the 15th and 16th centuries but I'd >love someone to correct me on this. a century later, and variably -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society