/ ˈhentʃmən; NAmE / noun
( pl. -men / -mən; NAmE /) a faithful supporter of a powerful person, for example a political leader or criminal, who is prepared to use violence or become involved in illegal activities to help that person
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English , from Old English hengest male horse + man , the original sense being probably groom . In the mid 19th cent. the sense principal attendant of a Highland chief was popularized by Sir Walter Scott, whence the current (originally US) usage.