Castle Rackrent/Glossary/16

'''GLOSSARY 16. FINING DOWN THE YEAR'S RENT.'''

&mdash;When an Irish gentleman, like Sir Kit Rackrent, has lived beyond his income, and finds himself distressed for ready money, tenants obligingly offer to take his land at a rent far below the value, and to pay him a small sum of money in hand, which they call fining down the yearly rent. The temptation of this ready cash often blinds the landlord to his future interest.