a farmer who works with soil, especially one who does simple farming on poor land or engages in subsistence agriculture.
Compound word from 'dirt' (soil) and 'farmer' (one who farms). The term emerged in American English to describe farmers who worked marginal or sandy lands, or simply those who worked directly with the earth rather than with livestock.
In early 20th-century America, 'dirtfarmer' was sometimes used dismissively to describe poor farmers, but it became a badge of honor for those who worked the hardest and knew the soil best—a great example of how the same word can be an insult or a compliment depending on who's using it!
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