Main Entry: peas·ant

Pronunciation: \ˈpe-z^ənt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English paissaunt, from Anglo-French paisant, pesaunt, from pais, paiis country, from Late Latin pagensis inhabitant of a district, from Latin pagus district; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact

Date: 15th century

1 : a member of a European class of persons tilling the soil as small landowners or as laborers; also : a member of a similar class elsewhere
2 : a usually uneducated person of low social status