farmer-general
nounEtymology Calque of French fermier général
1
Historical A member of a privileged association in France, before the French Revolution, who collected duties on behalf of the king, along with bonus fees for themselves.
- In the same tone a farmer general in France, who had probably beggared a province, and whose rapacity had hastened the late revolution, exclaimed, "What need of reformation?" To such men I can make no reply […]1810, George Ensor, On National Government, volume 1, page 2: