serf

[ surf ]

noun

1. a person in a condition of feudal servitude, required to render services to a lord, commonly attached to the lord's land and transferred with it from one owner to another.

   Synonyms: peasant, villein, vassal

2. a worker who is underpaid, overworked, or otherwise exploited:

   Today's service-sector serfs are fighting for the most basic of job perks: a decent paycheck, a stable schedule, and paid time off when they are sick.

3. Obsolete. a person held in bondage or slavery.

serf

/ sɜːf /

noun

1. (esp in medieval Europe) an unfree person, esp one bound to the land. If his lord sold the land, the serf was passed on to the new landlord

serf

1. Under feudalism , a peasant bound to his lord's land and subject to his lord's will, but entitled to his lord's protection.

Derived Forms

• ˈserfˌlike, adjective
• ˈserfdom, noun

Other Words From

• serf·dom [surf, -d, uh, m] noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of serf¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Old French, from Latin servus “slave”

Word History and Origins

Origin of serf¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin servus a slave; see serve

Example Sentences

To that end, like the Don host, many of the poorer folks and serfs of the Ukrainian society strove to escape from the clutches of the organized states.

From Realm of History

The word itself derives from the Czech word “robota,” or forced labor, as done by serfs.

From Popular-Science

"Fergan must have remained behind in the quarry where he cuts stone," remarked another serf.

From Project Gutenberg

The bailiff having finished his reading, beckoned to a serf named Peter the Lame.

From Project Gutenberg

The imprecations and the foot-falls of the serf alone interrupted the silence of the night.

From Project Gutenberg

Accidentally the bailiff caught sight of the blind serf, mutilated of his four limbs.

From Project Gutenberg

The young serf had a somberer and wilder look, her tears had dried, but her eyes shot lightning.

From Project Gutenberg