noun
Etymology: free (I) + lance
1.
a. : a knight or roving soldier available for hire by a state or commander : free companion , condottiere
b. : one who acts on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority
2. : one who pursues a profession or occupation usually in the arts under no long-term contractual commitments to any one employer or company
the free lance works from his own studio, contacting his clients when necessary … is paid by the job, and the number and importance of his jobs depends largely on the reputation he has built — Design
especially : a writer who writes stories or articles for the open market with long-term commitments to no one publisher or periodical