noun
sellsword
Sellsword (noun) means a soldier who fights for payment rather than loyalty.
noun
1
A soldier who fights for payment rather than loyalty.
"One such warrior was Kothar, cast up by the sea in the northlands of his world, a sellsword and a mercenary, a wencher after the women of his day, a freebooter and a thief, at times, whose sword Frostfire was a magic sword."
— Gardner Francis Fox, Prologue (1969)
"Your profession always charges high and never guarantees their work. No sellsword would stay alive if he demanded a sorcerer's terms."
— Robert Lynn Asprin, Exercise in Pain (1982)
2
(figurative) Someone who works purely for payment, like a hired fighter.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sellsword.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Etymology
Formed from sell and sword; compare hired gun.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of sellsword?
"sellsword" (noun) means a soldier who fights for payment rather than loyalty.
What is another word for sellsword?
Other words for "sellsword" include mercenary.
What are the different meanings of sellsword?
"sellsword" has 2 main meanings: 1. A soldier who fights for payment rather than loyalty; 2. (figurative) Someone who works purely for payment, like a hired fighter.