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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peon¹

n

1. a Spanish-American farm labourer or unskilled worker

2. (Historical Terms) (formerly in Spanish America) a debtor compelled to work off his debts

3. any very poor person

[from Spanish peón peasant, from Medieval Latin pedō man who goes on foot, from Latin pēs foot; compare Old French paon pawn²]

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peon²

n (in India, Sri Lanka, etc., esp formerly)

1. (Business / Commerce) a messenger or attendant, esp in an office

2. (Law) a native policeman

3. (Military) a foot soldier

[from Portuguese peão orderly; see peon¹]

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

Translations

peon [ˈpiːən] N → peón m