henchman

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English henxman (page, attendant), from Old English *hengstmann, *hengestmann (groom, literally horseman), from hengst, hengest (stallion, horse, steed, gelding) (from Proto-Germanic *hangistaz (stallion), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱanḱest-, *kankest- (horse)) + mann (man). Cognate with archaic German Hengstmann (a groom), Icelandic hestamaður (horseman, groom).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈhɛnt͡ʃ.mən/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

henchman (plural henchmen)

  1. A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:loyal follower
  2. A person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests.
  3. An assistant member of a criminal gang.
  4. (obsolete) A page to a prince or other person of high rank.

Translations[edit]