First Known Use: 1611
Dictionary
serf
noun \ˈsərf\
: a person in the past who belonged to a low social class and who lived and worked on land owned by another person
Full Definition of SERF
: a member of a servile feudal class bound to the land and subject to the will of its owner
— serf·age \ˈsər-fij\ noun
— serf·dom \ˈsərf-dəm, -təm\ noun
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Origin of SERF
French, from Old French, from Latin servus slave
Other History Terms
SERFDOM Defined for Kids
serf
noun \ˈsərf\
Definition of SERF for Kids
: a servant or laborer of olden times who was treated as part of the land worked on and went along with the land if it was sold
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