henchman
Americannoun
-
an unscrupulous and ruthless subordinate, especially a criminal.
The leader of the gang went everywhere accompanied by his henchmen.
-
an unscrupulous supporter or adherent of a political figure or cause, especially one motivated by the hope of personal gain.
Hitler and his henchmen.
-
a trusted attendant, supporter, or follower.
-
Obsolete. a squire or page.
noun
-
a faithful attendant or supporter
-
archaic a squire; page
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of henchman
1325–75; Middle English henchman, henshman, henksman, hengestman, Old English hengest stallion (cognate with German Hengst ) + man man
Vocabulary lists containing henchman
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the same day that Tupac made that big speech outside the courthouse, he called Jimmy Henchman to ask for directions to Quad Studios.
From Slate • Feb. 14, 2020
But most of those cities are in the Rust Belt, places like Ohio and Pennsylvania, which already have statewide income taxes, according to Henchman.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2016
“It looks like magic to me,” says Henchman.
From The Guardian • Apr. 15, 2016
“You need to have some clawbacks in case the production doesn’t do all that the promoters said it would,” Mr Henchman argues.
From Economist • Jun. 18, 2015
Mrs. Henchman had ordered her donkey-chair for three o'clock, and shortly before that hour Gertrude came bustling in from the garden.
From The Girls of St. Olave's by Mackintosh, Mabel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
