peasant

Where does the word "peasant" come from? It comes from Latin pagus, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Peasant’s story begins in Latin: pagus meant “country district.” A rural district; the same word gives 'pagan', a country-dweller. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as paisant. From 'pais', country, modern 'pays'. It reached English by 1400s as peasant. Later used as a snobbish insult for an uncultured person. Today, peasant means a poor farmer or rural worker of low social status.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pagus "country district", a rural district; the same word gives 'pagan', a country-dweller.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval paisant "country dweller", from 'pais', country, modern 'pays'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s peasant "a poor farm labourer", later used as a snobbish insult for an uncultured person.