[peas.ant] n [ME paissaunt, fr. MF paisant, fr. OF, fr. pais country, fr. LL pagensis inhabitant of a district, fr. L pagus district] (15c) 1: a member of a European class of persons tilling the soil as small landowners or as laborers; also: a member of a similar class elsewhere
2: a usu. uneducated person of low social status