FARM. A certain amount of provision reserved as the rent of a messuage. Spel man, Gloss.
Rent generally which is reserved on a lease ; when it was to be paid in money, it was called blanche firme. Spelman, Gloss. ; 2 Black stone, Comm. 42.
A term. A lease of lands; a leasehold in terest. 2 Sharswood, Blackst. Comm. 17 ; 1 Reeve, Kist. Eng. Law, 301, n.; 6 Term, 532; 2 Chitty, n. e. The land itself, let to farm or rent. 2 Blackstone, Comm. 368.
A portion of land used for agricultural purposes, either wholly or in part. 18 Pick. Mass. 553 ; 2 Binn. Penn. 238.
It is usually the chief mcssusge in a village or town whereto belongs greet demesne of all sort. Cowel ; Cunningham, Law Diet.; Termer de la Ley.
A large tract or portion of land taken by a lease under a yearly rent payable by the tenant. Tom lin, Law Dict.
From this latter sense is derived its common mo dern signification of a large tract used for culti vation or other purposes, as raising stock, whether hired or owned by the occupant, including a mes suage with out-buildings, gardens, orchard, yard, etc. Plowd. 195; Touchst. 93.
In American law, the word has almost exclu sively this latter meaning of a portion of land used for agricultural purposes, either wholly or in part. 2 Binn. Penn. 238; 18 Pick. Mass. 553; 6 Mete. Mass. 529; 2 Hilliard, Real Prop. 338 at seq.
By the conveyance of a farm will pass a messuage, arable land, meadow, pasture, wood, etc.. belonging to or used with it.
Coke, Litt. 5 a; Sheppard, Touchst. 93 ; 4 Cruise, Dig. 321 ; Brooke, Abr. Grants, 155; Plowd. 167.
In a will, the word farm may pass a free hold, if it appear that such was the intention of the testator. 6 Term, 345 ; 9 East, 448. See 6 East, 604, n.; 8 id. 339 ; 1 Jarman, Wills, Perkins ed. 609.