mezzadria
/mɛdzəˈdriːə/ /mɛtsəˈdriːə/(also mezzeria) Italian History
noun
A system of feudal land tenure whereby a farmer paid a proportion (originally half) of the farm's produce as rent. Also (occasionally) attributive, in mezzadria district, mezzadria system, etc.
- This system ceased to operate after the Second World War..
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Encyclopaedia Britannica. From Italian mezzadria from mezzadro + -ia.