Peonage
/ˈpiː.ə.nɪdʒ/noun
A condition of involuntary servitude in which a person is bound to work off a debt.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Spanish peón, meaning a foot soldier or laborer, from Latin pēs/ped- “foot,” so the root image is literally someone on foot, low on the social ladder.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
pēs, ped-
“foot”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
pedō, peō
“a foot soldier; a laborer on foot”
Spanish
Spanish
peón
“a foot soldier; later, a laborer or farm worker”
19th Century
English
peonage
“a system in which a debtor is bound to service until a debt is paid”
Modern English
English
peonage
“involuntary servitude based on debt”
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