peasant
UK: ˈpezənt | US: ˈpezənt
n. 1. A poor smallholder or agricultural laborer of low social status, typically in a feudal or pre-industrial society.
n. 2. (Derogatory) An uneducated or unsophisticated person.
peasant = peas<country> + ant<noun suffix>
- peas<country>: From Old French pais (modern pays), meaning "country" or "region," derived from Latin pagus (rural district).
- ant<noun suffix>: A suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., merchant, tyrant), often implying association with the root.
Etymology Origin:
The word peasant traces back to medieval Latin paganensis ("inhabitant of a rural district"), via Old French paisant. It originally denoted rural laborers tied to feudal land, contrasting with urban dwellers. Over time, it acquired derogatory connotations of backwardness or lack of refinement, reflecting historical class biases.
The peasant toiled in the fields from dawn till dusk.
Medieval peasants paid taxes to the lord of the manor.
His rude manners made him seem like a peasant among aristocrats.
The uprising was led by peasants demanding fair land distribution.
She dismissed his taste in music as "peasant entertainment."