noun
serf
surf
noun
1
A peasant tied to a piece of land under a feudal lord, obliged to work it but with very limited personal freedoms.
"Serfs in medieval Europe could not leave the land they worked without their lord's permission."
How to Use Serf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical peasant class bound to farm a lord's land, with little personal freedom.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "surf" (waves) — they sound the same but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
serfs plural
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_____ in medieval Europe could not leave the land they worked without their lord's permission.
Etymology
From Old French serf, from Latin servus, "slave, servant."