transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈpē-ˌän, -ən also ]
pā-ˈōn for 2, Britain also ˈpyün for 1 noun
( plural peons or pe·o·nes pā-ˈō-nēz)
Etymology: Portuguese peão & French pion, from Medieval Latin pedon-, pedo foot soldier — more at pawn
Date: 1609
1. : any of various workers in India, Sri Lanka, or Malaysia: as
a. : infantryman
b. : orderly
2.
[Spanish peón, from Latin pedon-, pedo ]
: a member of the landless laboring class in Spanish America
3. plural peons
a. : a person held in compulsory servitude to a master for the working out of an indebtedness
b. : drudge , menial