serf
French
noun
Definitions
- a serf semifree peasant obliged to remain on the lord's land and to perform extensive chores for him
Etymology
Inherited from Middle French serf inherited from Old French serf inherited from Latin servus (slave, servant, serf) derived from Proto-Indo-European *ser-wo- (guardian).
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*ser-wo-
Gloss
guardian
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- conservus Latin
- serviculus Latin
- servilis Latin
- servitium Latin
- servitor Latin
- servitus Latin
- servitūdō Latin
- servitūs Latin
- servula Latin
- servus Latin
- servo Italian
- servage French
- *ser-wo- Proto-Indo-European
- servo Portuguese
- serwus Polish
- serf Middle English
- serf Old French
- serv Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan
- șerb Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan
- serf Middle Dutch
- serf Middle French
- sierf Friulian
- sieruo Old Spanish