Serfdom
Merriam-Webster defines the word serf as: a member of a servile feudal class bound to the soil and subject to the will of his lord.
I think we should bring the word back into common usage. Make it a job title! Anyone else on board, here?
Edit: This is far more apt for the modern world if you substitute "his desk" or "his computer" for "the soil."
3 Comments
From NetSERF (http://www.netserf.org)
Serf:
1) A semi-free peasant who works his lord's demesne and pays him certain dues in return for the use of land, the possession (not ownership) of which is heritable. These dues, usually called corvée, are almost in the form of labor on the lord's land. Generally this averages to three days a week. Generally subdivided into classes called: cottagers, small holders, or villeins although the later originally meant a free peasant who was burdened with additional rents and services.
(MEDIEV-L. Medieval Terms)
2) Slave; property of the lord.
(Wood, Michael. Domesday: A Search for the Roots of England, 214)
3) Peasant burdened with week-work, merchet, tallage, and other obligations; bondman, villein.
(Gies, Frances and Joseph. Life in a Medieval Village, 245)
Hmmmmm. Yep. That's me, alright. Perhaps I should go get one of these hats: http://www.codingslave.com/pages/csGetProgram.php
pc - I could do with a serf as well. But more because I'm lazy than for any other reason.
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Beth Ballingall
food lover : world traveller : gamer : New Yorker : twenty-something : former Londoner : handbag lover : erstwhile soprano : geek
Hi, I could do with a serf right now, getting tired of working til midnight all the time to earn a crust?