A man of frugal and industrious habits can always rise without much difficulty from the position of day labourer to that of Metayer tenant, and from tenancy to proprietorship, and some of the small proprietors are able to amass a considerable competency.
"Contemporary Socialism"
John Rae
In other cases, as in Tuscany, the Metayer farmer is virtually co-proprietor with the landlord, since custom, though not law, guarantees to him a permanent possession and half the gross produce, so long as he fulfils the customary conditions of his tenure.
"Socialism"
John Stuart Mill
All the land in the duchy was farmed on the Metayer system, and with such ill results that the peasants were always in debt to their landlords.
"The Valley of Decision"
Edith Wharton