tenant who holds land at his lord's pleasure
• (n.) A villein who rendered menial service for his cottage; a cottier.
Bord'ar noun [ Late Latin bordarius , from borda a cottage; of uncertain origin.] A villein who rendered menial service for his cottage; a cottier. « The cottar, the bordar , and the laborer were bound to aid in the work of the home farm. J. R. Green. » 
Doomsday book term meaning smallholder - also referred to as petit marchand
SMALLHOLDER, usually holding between five and fifteen acres in a MANOR, but sometimes identical with a COTTAGER.