bondage

[bon-dij] /ˈbɒn dɪdʒ/
noun
1.
slavery or involuntary servitude; serfdom.
2.
the state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control.
3.
the state or practice of being physically restrained, as by being tied up, chained, or put in handcuffs, for sexual gratification.
4.
Early English Law. personal subjection to the control of a superior; villeinage.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English < Anglo-Latin bondagium. See bond2, -age
Synonyms
1. captivity, restraint; prison. See slavery. 2. thralldom, captivity, confinement, imprisonment.
British Dictionary definitions for bondage

bondage

/ˈbɒndɪdʒ/
noun
1.
slavery or serfdom; servitude
2.
Also called villeinage. (in medieval Europe) the condition and status of unfree peasants who provided labour and other services for their lord in return for holdings of land
3.
a sexual practice in which one partner is physically bound
Word Origin and History for bondage
n.

c.1300, "condition of a serf or slave," from Anglo-Latin bondagium, from Middle English bond "a serf, tenant farmer," from Old English bonda "householder," from Old Norse boandi "free-born farmer," noun use of present participle of boa "dwell, prepare, inhabit," from PIE *bhow-, from root *bheue- "to be, exist, dwell" (see be). Meaning in English changed by influence of bond. The sexual sado-masochism sense is recorded by 1966.

Slang definitions & phrases for bondage

bondage

noun

Sexual practice in which a participant is tied up or otherwise restrained, usually for whipping or other ''discipline'' (1960s+)


bondage in the Bible

of Israel in Egypt (Ex. 2:23, 25; 5), which is called the "house of bondage" (13:3; 20:2). This word is used also with reference to the captivity in Babylon (Isa. 14:3), and the oppression of the Persian king (Ezra 9:8, 9).