hireling
Sentences
Meaning
- (derogatory, usually) An employee who is hired, often to perform unpleasant tasks with little independence.
- (derogatory, usually) Someone who does a job purely for money, rather than out of interest in the work itself.
- A horse for hire.
- (obsolete) A prostitute.
Synonyms
staff member
job-holder
wage-earner
Translations
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈhaɪ.ə.lɪŋ/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English hirlyng, from Old English hȳrling (“hireling, employee”), from Proto-West Germanic *hūʀijuling. Cognate with West Frisian hierling, Dutch huurling (“hireling, mercenary”), German Low German Hüürling, German Heuerling. By surface analysis, hire + -ling.
Notes
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