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 elsewhere2: a usually uneducated person of low social status