COTTAR Meaning and
Definition
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A cottar refers to a historical term that originated in medieval Scotland and Ireland, primarily used to denote a tenant farmer or someone occupying a small cottage on the land of a larger estate. The term is derived from the Old Gaelic word "cot," meaning a small dwelling or cottage.
In the feudal system, a cottar was a lower-ranking individual who paid rent to a landowner in exchange for the right to live in a small cottage and cultivate a small plot of land. Typically, cottars were engaged in subsistence farming and were often allotted land that was less fertile or less desirable compared to that of higher-ranking tenants. As such, their means of livelihood relied heavily on the meager produce they cultivated on their small holdings.
Cottars often held a position between free tenants and landless laborers in the social hierarchy. They were required to perform various services for the landowner, such as working on the lord's land, repairing roads, or providing labor during harvest time. While they did not possess the same rights and privileges as higher-ranking tenants, cottars were nonetheless protected by the lord and were often subject to the strict regulations and obligations set forth by the feudal system.
In modern usage, the term "cottar" has largely lost its original meaning and is rarely encountered, except in historical or traditional contexts.
Common Misspellings for COTTAR
Etymology of COTTAR
The word "cottar" has its origins in Old English. It comes from the Old English word "cotere", which referred to a person who lived in a cot or cottage. The term was later borrowed into Middle English as "cottar" and continued to be used to describe a peasant or laborer who worked on a farm or lived in a cottage. The word eventually fell out of common usage but can still be found in some dialects and historical contexts.
Similar spelling words for COTTAR
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