Me-tā'yer, n.

[Fr. métayer, N. Pr. meytadier, L. Lat. melietarius, from Lat. medius, middle, half; It. mezzaiuolo.] A farmer holding land on condition of yielding half the produce to the proprietor, from whom he receives stock and tools. [France and Italy.] “Vast estates accumulated by one proprietor, and cultivated by slaves, or at best by poor metayers.” Milman.