cottier

/ ˈkɒtɪə /

noun

1. See cotter
   another name for cotter 2
2. (in Ireland) a peasant farming a smallholding under cottier tenure (the holding of not more than half an acre at a rent of not more than five pounds a year)
3. See cottager
   another name for cottager

Word History and Origins

Origin of cottier¹

C14: from Old French cotier; see cote ¹, coterie

Example Sentences

Cottier, one of these, was paid a retaining fee of ten thousand crowns, besides great sums in lands and money.

From Project Gutenberg

Poor Maurice, whose heart could never stand the slightest wrong done the humblest cottier on his land, how will he bear up now?

From Project Gutenberg

The greater number of them are, however, evidently the holdings of small cottier tenants.

From Project Gutenberg

Then follows a list of the little cottier tenants, and their holdings and services.

From Project Gutenberg

There were also holders of fardels or quarter-virgates, and half-fardels, or one-eighth-virgates, and other small cottier tenants.

From Project Gutenberg