Bonderman

/ˈbɒndərmən/ noun

Definition

A feudal vassal or serf; a man in bondage or bound by service to a lord or master.

Etymology

From Middle English 'bonde' (bondsman) plus 'man,' directly reflecting feudal social hierarchy terminology. The word appears in medieval legal documents describing unfree persons and their obligations.

Kelly Says

A bonderman occupied a strange legal limbo in medieval society—not quite a slave, yet not free to leave the land without permission; their status was tied to the soil itself, creating a system where people were as immobile as the fields they worked.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

'-man' suffix historically reserved for professional roles, excluding women from occupational identity even when they performed the work.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'bondskeeper' or 'bond administrator' to denote role without gendered language.

Inclusive Alternatives

["bondskeeper","bond administrator","bondsworker"]

Related Words

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