Farm | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Fārm, n.

noun

n. [O. Eng. ferme, Fr. ferme, Pr. ferma, farm, abode; It. ferma, Sp. firma, bargain, contract, signature, from Lat. firmus, firm, fast, firmare, to make firm or fast, either because the farms were at first inclosed or fortified with walls, or because the leases were confirmed or made more certain by signature; A-S. feorme, feorme-hâm.]

A tract of land inclosed or set apart for cultivation by a tenant; a piece of ground farmed out or rented for agriculture.
An extended piece of ground, devoted by its owner to agriculture; a landed estate. “Pleasant villages and farms.” Milton.
The state of land leased on rent reserved; a lease.

It is great willfulness in landlords to make any longer farms to their tenants. Spenser. 4. A tract of country farmed out for the collection of the revenues. [Rare.] The province was divided into twelve farms. Burke.

Fârm, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. FARMED; p. pr. & vb. n. FARMING.] 1. To lease or let for an equivalent, as land for a rent; to yield the use of to a tenant, on condition of his returning a portion of the proceeds. We are enforced to farm our royal realm. Shak. 2. To give up to another, as an estate, a business, the revenue, a privilege, &c., on condition of receiving in return a percentage of what it yields; as, to farm the taxes. To farm their subjects and their duties toward these. Burke.

To take at a certain rent or rate.
To devote, as land, to agriculture; to cultivate, as a farm.

To farm let, or let to farm, to lease on rent.

Färm, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To till the soil; to labor as an agriculturist.