peon Hear it!

peon definition

peon (än′, -ən; for 3, Brit usually pyo̵̅o̅n)

noun

  1. in Spanish America,
    1. a person of the landless laboring class
    2. Historical a person forced to work off a debt or to perform penal servitude
  2. Historical in the SW U.S., a person forced into servitude to work off a debt
  3. in India,
    1. a foot soldier
    2. a native policeman
    3. an attendant or messenger
  4. an unskilled or exploited laborer

Etymology: < Sp peón or (in peon sense ) Port peão, both < ML pedo, foot soldier: see pawn

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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