peon

pe·on  (pn, pn)

n.

1.

a. An unskilled laborer or farm worker of Latin America or the southwest United States.

b. Such a worker bound in servitude to a landlord creditor.

2. A menial worker; a drudge.

3. also (pyn) In India and other parts of South and Southeast Asia, a person of menial position, especially a messenger, servant, or foot soldier.

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[Spanish, day laborer, from Medieval Latin ped, pedn-, foot soldier; see pioneer. Sense 3, possibly from Portuguese peão, from Medieval Latin ped.]

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peon

Noun

a Spanish-American farm labourer or unskilled worker [Spanish]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

peon - a laborer who is obliged to do menial work navvy, drudge, galley slave laborer, labourer, manual laborer, jack - someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor