peasant

[pez-uh nt] /ˈpɛz ənt/

noun

a member of a class of persons, as in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank.

a coarse, unsophisticated, boorish, uneducated person of little financial means.

adjective

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of peasants or their traditions, way of life, crafts, etc.

of or designating a style of clothing modeled on the folk costumes of Western cultures, especially women's full-sleeved, round-necked blouses and long, full skirts.

Origin

1375-1425; late Middle English paissaunt < Anglo-French paisant, Old French païsant, earlier païsenc, equivalent to païs country (< Late Latin pāgēnsis, equivalent to Latin pāg(us) country district + -ēnsis -ensis) + -enc < Germanic (see -ing³)

Related forms

peasantlike, adjective

Examples from the web for peasants

Then he fled to the hills, where he hid out in peasants' sheds for three months.
Links literary and artistic depictions of peasants' clothing and transgressive behavior to elite anxieties.
The peasants banded together, burned the bulldozer, and blocked the road from the border.
When he first came in and talked about reform he said, we're going to pay off the peasants.
peasants bring her gifts in hopes that she will intercede for them.
On top of that, peasants resented the gabelle, a tax on salt that was particularly unfairly applied to the poor.
Some of the deer escaped, but they were eaten by starving local peasants.
Some tired-looking peasants are walking down a road at sunset, carrying sheaves of wheat.
The village is home to around a hundred and fifty peasants, who make their living primarily from orchards.
In the history of the world, if you're one of the peasants, the one access you have to learning is through religion.

British Dictionary definitions for peasants

peasant

/ˈpɛzənt/

noun

a member of a class of low social status that depends on either cottage industry or agricultural labour as a means of subsistence
(as modifier): peasant dress

(informal) a person who lives in the country; rustic

(informal) an uncouth or uncultured person

Word Origin

C15: from Anglo-French, from Old French païsant, from païs country, from Latin pāgus rural area; see pagan

Word Origin and History for peasants

peasant

early 15c., from Anglo-French paisant (mid-14c.), Old French paisent "local inhabitant" (12c., Modern French paysan), earlier paisenc, from pais "country, region" + Frankish suffix -enc "-ing."

Pais is from Late Latin pagensis "(inhabitant) of the district," from Latin pagus "country or rural district" (see pagan). As a style of garment in fashion (e.g. peasant blouse) from 1953.

peasants in Culture

peasant definition

A farmer or agricultural worker of low status. The word is applied chiefly to agricultural workers in Asia, Europe, and South America, who generally adhere to traditional agricultural practices and have little social mobility or freedom.