hired hand

American  

noun

1. a hired laborer, especially on a farm or ranch; farm hand or ranch hand.

2. an employee.

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hired hand Idioms  

1. Also,. A person engaged to assist with farm or domestic chores, as in We need extra hired hands during the harvest, or She was looking for a hired girl to do the laundry. This use of hired dates from the 1200s and referred to someone employed for wages as opposed to a slave or serf. The use of girl now may be offensive.

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Etymology

Origin of hired hand

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hired hand

Lawyers for Iwamasa said he was really little more than a hired hand, bound to do the bidding of his wealthy boss.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

“You have to be a hired hand to do those things,” Tarantino says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2022

There was one time, however, when Mr. Watts famously chafed at being treated like a hired hand rather than an equal member of the group.

From New York Times ● Aug. 24, 2021

Ravenholt grew up speaking Danish and worked as a hired hand on neighboring farms while the family lived in rentals until they could afford another property.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2020

But the Shibayamas were owners of a respectable house, and it seemed to them that Fujiko, the daughter in question, could do better than to marry a hired hand in America.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• casual laborer
• day laborer
• farmhand
• hand
• help
• hired help