The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Farmer \Farm"er\ (f[aum]rm"[~e]r), n. [Cf. F. fermier.]
   One who farms; as:
   (a) One who hires and cultivates a farm; a cultivator of
       leased ground; a tenant. --Smart.
   (b) One who is devoted to the tillage of the soil; one who
       cultivates a farm; an agriculturist; a husbandman.
   (c) One who takes taxes, customs, excise, or other duties, to
       collect, either paying a fixed annuual rent for the
       privilege; as, a farmer of the revenues.
   (d) (Mining) The lord of the field, or one who farms the lot
       and cope of the crown.
       [1913 Webster]

   Farmer-general [F. fermier-general], one to whom the right
      of levying certain taxes, in a particular district, was
      farmed out, under the former French monarchy, for a given
      sum paid down.

   Farmers' satin, a light material of cotton and worsted,
      used for coat linings. --McElrath.

   The king's farmer (O. Eng. Law), one to whom the collection
      of a royal revenue was farmed out. --Burrill.
      [1913 Webster]