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Definition farm

Etymology 1

From Middle English ferme, farme (�rent, revenue, produce, factor, stewardship, meal, feast�), from Anglo-Norman ferme (�rent, lease, farm�), from Medieval Latin ferma, firma, from Old English feorm, fearm, farm (�provision, food, supplies, provisions supplied by a tenant or vassal to his lord, rent, possessions, stores, feast, entertainment, haven�), from Proto-Germanic *ferm? (�means of living, subsistence�), from Proto-Germanic *ferhw?, *ferhuz (�life force, body, being�), from Proto-Indo-European *perk?- (�life, force, strength, tree�). Cognate with Scots ferm (�rent, farm�). Related also to Old English feorh (�life, spirit�), Old High German ferah (�life, body, being�), Icelandic fj�r (�life, vitality, vigour, animation�), Gothic ??????? (fair?us, �the world�). Compare also Old English feormeh?m (�farm�), feormere (�purveyor, grocer�).

Old English feorm is the origin of Medieval Latin ferma, firma (�farm", also "feast�) (whence also Old French ferme, Occitan ferma), instead of the historically assumed derivation from unrelated Latin firma (�firm, solid�), which shares the same form. The sense of "rent, fixed payment", which was already present in the Old English word, may have been further strengthened due to resemblance to Latin firmitas (�security, surety�). Additionally, Old French ferme continued to shape the development of the English word throughout the Middle English period.

Noun

farm (plural farms)

A place where agricultural and similar activities take place, especially the growing of crops or the raising of livestock.
A tract of land held on lease for the purpose of cultivation.
(usually in combination) A location used for an industrial purpose, having many similar structures
(computing) A group of coordinated servers.
(obsolete) Food; provisions; a meal.
(obsolete) A banquet; feast.
(obsolete) A fixed yearly amount (food, provisions, money, etc.) payable as rent or tax.
(historical) A fixed yearly sum accepted from a person as a composition for taxes or other moneys which he is empowered to collect; also, a fixed charge imposed on a town, county, etc., in respect of a tax or taxes to be collected within its limits.
(historical) The letting-out of public revenue to a �farmer�; the privilege of farming a tax or taxes.
The body of farmers of public revenues.
The condition of being let at a fixed rent; lease; a lease.

Verb

farm (third-person singular simple present farms, present participle farming, simple past and past participle farmed)

(intransitive) To work on a farm, especially in the growing and harvesting of crops.
(transitive) To devote (land) to farming.
(transitive) To grow (a particular crop).
To give up to another, as an estate, a business, the revenue, etc., on condition of receiving in return a percentage of what it yields; to farm out.
(obsolete) To lease or let for an equivalent, e.g. land for a rent; to yield the use of to proceeds.
(obsolete) To take at a certain rent or rate.
(video games, chiefly online gaming) To engage in grinding (repetitive activity) in a particular area or against specific enemies for a particular drop or item.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fermen, from Old English feormian (�to clean, cleanse�), from Proto-Germanic *furbijan? (�to clean, polish, buff�), from Proto-Indo-European *prep- (�to be visible, appear�). Doublet of furbish.