a Scottish or Irish farm laborer or tenant farmer who lives in a small cottage, often having very few rights or possessions.
From 'cot' (a small dwelling) plus '-ar' (agent suffix), with Scottish/Irish origins. It specifically describes peasant farmers in Britain and Ireland.
Cottars were essentially bound to the land they worked—they couldn't easily leave their cottages or their employer, making them close to serfs in their legal status. Their struggles led to major social reforms in Scotland and Ireland.
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