métayer

American  

[met-uh-yey, mey-tuh-] / ˌmɛt əˈjeɪ, ˌmeɪ tə- /

noun

1. a person who works the land using tools, seed, etc., furnished by the landlord and who receives a share of the harvest in compensation.

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Etymology

Origin of métayer

1770–80; < French < Medieval Latin medietārius, equivalent to mediet ( ās ) ( see moiety) + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

métayer

He never worried his métayer over money matters, or insisted upon seeing that everything was equally divided.

From Wanderings by southern waters, eastern Aquitaine by Edward Harrison Barker

Farms were usually held on a sort of métayer system, half the produce going to the landlord as rent.

From Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations by A. H. (Archibald Henry) Sayce

Thanks to the métayer land-tenure, man’s heart, as well as his strength, is given to the ground, with his hope and his honour. 

From The Rhythm of Life by Alice Christiana Thompson Meynell

Would he—on the métayer system—consent to give half of his harvest to the landowner?

From The Conquest of Bread by Petr Alekseevich Kropotkin, Prince

Every one knows the wretchedness of it in Ireland, and that there are numerous instances in Italy of the complete success of the métayer plan.

From How to Observe Morals and Manners by Harriet Martineau