Helot

noun

1. a member of the lowest class of serfs in ancient Sparta
2. any serf or slave

Origin: L Helotes, Hilotae, pl. < Gr Heilōtes, pl., taken as after Helos, town in Laconia whose inhabitants were enslaved by the Spartans, but < ? base of haliskesthai, to be captured < IE base *wel-, to tear, injure > L vellere, to pluck, tear away