cottar

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Scottish history: a peasant or farm laborer who occupied a cottage and sometimes a small plot, usually in return for labor services

   The cottar received a cottage, a garden, and grazing for a cow in return for seasonal work.

From Middle English coter or cotyer, through Anglo-French cotier and Medieval Latin cotarius, ultimately based on cot, 'a small dwelling,' plus an occupational suffix. In Scotland, cottar became the preferred spelling for a cottage tenant who owed labor service.

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