peon
1[ pee-uh n, pee-on ]
/ ˈpi ən, ˈpi ɒn /
noun
(in Spanish America) a farm worker or unskilled laborer; day laborer.
(formerly, especially in Mexico) a person held in servitude to work off debts or other obligations.
any person of low social status, especially one who does work regarded as menial or unskilled; drudge.
Nearby words
penutian, penza, penzance, penzias, penzias, arno allan, peon, peonage, peony, people, people carrier, people mover
Origin of peon
11820–30; < Spanish peón peasant, day laborer < Vulgar Latin *pedōn- (stem of *pedō) walker (whence Medieval Latin pedōnēs infantry, Old French peon pawn2), derivative of Latin ped- (stem of pēs) foot
Definition for peon (2 of 2)
peon
2[ pee-uh n, pee-on ]
/ ˈpi ən, ˈpi ɒn /
noun (in India and Sri Lanka)
a messenger, attendant, or orderly.
a foot soldier or police officer.
Origin of peon
2Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for peon
British Dictionary definitions for peon (1 of 2)
peon
1/ (ˈpiːən, ˈpiːɒn) /
noun
a Spanish-American farm labourer or unskilled worker
(formerly in Spanish America) a debtor compelled to work off his debts
any very poor person
Word Origin for peon
C19: from Spanish peón peasant, from Medieval Latin pedō man who goes on foot, from Latin pēs foot; compare Old French paon pawn ²
British Dictionary definitions for peon (2 of 2)
peon
2/ (pjuːn, ˈpiːən, ˈpiːɒn) /
noun (in India, Sri Lanka, etc, esp formerly)
a messenger or attendant, esp in an office
a native policeman
a foot soldier
Word Origin for peon
C17: from Portuguese peão orderly; see peon 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for peon
peon
unskilled worker, 1826, from Mexican Spanish peon "agricultural laborer" (especially a debtor held in servitude by his creditor), from Spanish peon "day laborer," also "pedestrian," originally "foot soldier," from Medieval Latin pedonem "foot soldier" (see pawn (n.2)). The word entered British English earlier (c.1600) in the sense "native constable, soldier, or messenger in India," via Portuguese peao "pedestrian, foot soldier, day laborer."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper