freelance
The origin and history of freelance.
Etymology
Coined by Sir Walter Scott in his 1819 novel Ivanhoe, originally describing a medieval mercenary knight whose "lance" (weapon and services) was not sworn to any single lord. The word later shifted to its modern sense of independent, self-employed work.
Class of 1819
freelance first entered the language around 1819. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1819 →