Definition of "peasant"

peasant

/ˈpɛzənt/

noun
plural peasants
1. A member of the lowly social class that toils on the land, constituted by small farmers and tenants, sharecroppers, farmhands and other laborers on the land where they form the main labor force in agriculture and horticulture.
  Quotations
  The Ambassador warned him of the consequences if his mission to Moscow were a failure, both to Churchill's position at home and to Russia's prospects in the war. He insisted that he should not allow himself to be offended 'by a peasant who didn't know any better'. Churchill listened in silence, then returned to the dacha leaving Clark Kerr outside.
  1986, Martin Kitchen, British Policy Towards the Soviet Union during the Second World War‎, Palgrave Macmillan, page 137
2. A country person.
3. (derogatory) An uncouth, crude or ill-bred person.
4. (strategy games) A worker unit.
adjective
not comparable
1. (attributive) Characteristic of or relating to a peasant or peasants; unsophisticated.
  Quotations
  Ratatouille? It's a peasant dish. Are you sure you want to serve this to Ego?
  2007, Brad Bird, Ratatouille, spoken by Colette
2. (obsolete, derogatory) Lowly, vulgar; reprehensible; dishonest.
  Quotations
  Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slave am I?
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii], line 520

Definition of "peasant"

peasant

noun

Quotations

adjective

Quotations

Quotations