What is meant by "Cotter"

[jrc11]

Looking at the 1749 Elphin census under the heading " profession" the term cotter appears. I wonder if this is a peat cutter. Is this correct or is there some other meaning?
Thank you

[djct59]

A cotter or cottar is, in Scotland and Ireland,  a farm labourer or tenant occupying a cottage in return for labour.

[Kiltaglassan]

Normally it's a 'cottier' in Ireland.

One definition of cottier in Ireland (c. 1700–1850) was a person who rented a simple cabin and between one and one and a half acres of land upon which to grow potatoes, oats, and possibly flax. The ground was held on a year-to-year basis and rent was often paid in labour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotter_(farmer)

[jrc11]

Thank you both for your prompt and informative replies.
Regards

[sonofthom]

The Cotter's Saturday night is a well known poem by Burns:-
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/cotters-saturday-night/