small farmer; peasant
Refers to a farmer with a small plot of land, often in a historical or rural context. Can carry a nuance of modest means.
In the Edo period, many small farmers struggled under the land tax.
My grandfather was a small farmer, but he grew enough crops to support his family.
Compound of 小 (small) and 百姓 (farmer, peasant). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used to refer to small-scale farmers since at least the Edo period.