noun
- plural of serf; agricultural laborers bound to work on their lord’s estate in medieval feudal systems
Usage: historical
Examples
- Medieval serfs were tied to the land and could not leave without their lord’s permission.
- The serfs worked the fields in exchange for protection and a place to live.
- Unlike slaves, serfs had some legal rights and could not be bought or sold separately from the land.
- Many serfs lived in small cottages near their lord’s manor house.
- The feudal system depended on the labor of serfs to maintain the estate.
- Serfs were required to give a portion of their harvest to their lord as rent.