Bondsman
/ˈbɒndz.mən/noun
A man bound to serve another, especially in a state of servitude or slavery.
Did you know?The concept of a bondsman is deeply intertwined with ancient ideas of debt and servitude, often viewed as a form of spiritual and physical bondage.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰendh-
“to bind or tie”
Old English
Old English
bonda
“a husbandman, one who cultivates land, tied to the land”
Middle English
Middle English
bondesman
“a bond servant or slave, one bound to another in service”
14th Century
Middle English
bondsman
“a man who is bound to serve another under contract or debt”
Modern English
English
bondsman
“a man whose services are bound by contract, often in servitude or slavery.”
Explore more surprising origins