Thrallship
/ˈθrɔːlˌʃɪp/noun
The condition of being a thrall or slave; bondage or servitude.
Did you know?Thrall comes from Old Norse þræll, a term for an enslaved person, while the suffix -ship denotes a state or condition, making thrallship literally a ‘state of bondage.’
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*þrēlaz
“An enslaved person or servant; the exact ultimate origin is uncertain.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
þræll
“A slave or unfree person, especially in a Viking-Age social hierarchy.”
Old English
Old English
þrǣl
“A slave or bondservant; a form related to the later English word thrall.”
12th–13th Century
Middle English
thrall
“A slave, captive, or person held in bondage.”
14th–15th Century
English
-ship
“A suffix expressing a state, condition, office, or relationship.”
16th–17th Century
English
thrallship
“The condition of being a thrall; slavery or servitude.”
Modern English
English
thrallship
“An archaic or rare word for bondage or enslavement.”