First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
henchman
henchman
noun hench·man \ˈhench-mÉ™n\
: a trusted follower or supporter who performs unpleasant, wrong, or illegal tasks for a powerful person (such as a politician or criminal)
Full Definition of HENCHMAN
1
obsolete :Â a squire or page to a person of high rank
2
a :Â a trusted follower :Â a right-hand man b :Â a political follower whose support is chiefly for personal advantage c :Â a member of a gang
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Examples of HENCHMAN
- a gangster surrounded by his henchmen
Origin of HENCHMAN
Middle English henshman, hengestman groom, from hengest stallion (from Old English) + man; akin to Old High German hengist gelding
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