Labourer
/ˈleɪ.bər.ər/noun
A person who performs physical or manual work, especially as an unskilled or semi-skilled worker.
Did you know?The Latin noun labor could mean not only work, but also hardship, suffering, or distress, giving the word a darker historical undertone than its modern job title suggests.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
labor
“Work, exertion, hardship, or suffering”
Classical Latin
Latin
laborare
“To work, toil, or suffer hardship”
Medieval Latin
Latin
laborator
“A worker or one who labors”
Old French
Old French
labourer
“To work, cultivate land, or toil”
Middle English
English
labourer
“A manual worker or person who works with the hands”
Modern English
English
labourer
“A person employed in physical or manual work”
Explore more surprising origins