farmer-general

[fahr-mer-jen-er-uh l]

noun, plural farm·ers-gen·er·al.

(in France, under the old monarchy) a member of a company of capitalists that farmed certain taxes.

Origin of farmer-general

1705–15; translation of French fermier-général

Related formsfar·mer-gen·er·al·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for farmer-general

Historical Examples of farmer-general

He said: 'There was once a farmer-general—you know the rest!'
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 440
Various
The farmer-general left none but collateral relations, who had offered the house in Rue de Bretonvilliers for sale.
The Bath Keepers, v.2 (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume VIII)
Charles Paul de Kock
What matters it, since he who was truly a father to her was the farmer-general, Lenormant de Tourneheim.
The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852
Various
He was a farmer-general of the taxes, and amassed an immense fortune by grinding the poor.
Curiosities of Human Nature
Anonymous
Her husband held the lucrative post of farmer-general to the king, and besides inherited large estates.
Letters To Eugenia
Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

British Dictionary definitions for farmer-general

farmer-general

noun plural farmers-general

(in France before 1789) a member of a group allowed to farm certain taxes

Derived Formsfarmer-generalship, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012