A follower or servant who obeys a leader without question, often used mockingly to describe someone lacking independence.
From French 'mignon' meaning favorite or darling, from Old French. The word entered English in the 1400s and took on a more negative connotation over time, implying servile obedience.
The word 'minion' totally changed meaning over time—it started as a term of affection for a favorite person, but by Shakespeare's era it meant an overly obedient servant. The Despicable Me movies brought it back as a fun term, but it still carries that vibe of being someone's silly helper.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.