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henchman definition

hench·man (henc̸hmən)

noun pl. henchmen -·men (-mən)

  1. Obsolete a male attendant; page or squire
  2. a trusted helper or follower
  3. ☆ a political underling who seeks mainly to advance his own interests
  4. ☆ any of the followers of a criminal gang leader

Etymology: ME henxtman, hencheman < OE hengest, stallion (see Hengist) + -man: orig. sense prob. “horse attendant”

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