■ noun
1》 historical a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
↘a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something: a ~ to fashion.
2》 a device, or part of one, directly controlled by another. Compare with master 1 .
■ verb
1》 work excessively hard.
2》 [as noun slaving ] historical the action or process of enslaving people.
3》 subject (a device) to control by another.
Origin
ME: shortening of OFr. esclave , equivalent of med. L. sclava (fem.) 'Slavonic (captive)'.