Obs. [f. EARTH sb.1 + TILLER.] A cultivator of the soil. So in OE. and ME. Erthetilie, -tilye [see TILIE].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. iv. 2. Abel was sceaphyrde, and Cain eorþatilia.
c. 1205. Lay., 22107. He hæhte … þa eorðe-tilien [1250 erþe-tilies] teon to heore cræften.
c. 1325. Chron. Eng., 93. in Ritson, Metr. Rom., II. 274. Bruyt hade muche folk with him,… That were erthe-tilyes gode.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxi. 34. He sente his seruantis to the erthe tiliers, that they token fruytis of it.
1612. Davies, Why Ireland, etc. (1747), 190. Ouer that 4 d. or 6 d. daily to euery of them to be had and paide of the poore Earth-Tillers.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., To Rdr. b vij. The slighted and off-cast words in the mouths of Handy-crafts-men and Earth-tillers.
