n. & v.
n. 1 a person who is the legal property of another or others and is bound to absolute obedience, a human chattel. 2 a drudge, a person working very hard. 3 (foll. by of, to) a helpless victim of some dominating influence (slave of fashion; slave to duty). 4 a machine, or part of one, directly controlled by another.
v. 1 intr. (often foll. by at, over) work very hard. 2 tr. (foll. by to) subject (a device) to control by another. slave-bangle a bangle of gold, glass, etc., worn by a woman usu. above the elbow. slave-born born in slavery, born of slave parents. slave-bracelet = slave-bangle. slave-drive (past -drove; past part. -driven) work (a person) hard, esp. excessively. slave-driver 1 an overseer of slaves at work. 2 a person who works others hard. slave labour forced labour. slave ship hist. a ship transporting slaves, esp. from Africa. Slave State hist. any of the southern States of the US in which slavery was legal before the Civil War. slave-trade hist. the procuring, transporting, and selling of human beings, esp. African Blacks, as slaves. slave-trader hist. a person engaged in the slave-trade.
[ ME f. OF esclave = med.L sclavus, sclava Slav (captive): see SLAV ]