peasant

Everyday

1. A peasant was a poor farmer or farm worker in the past, especially in the Middle Ages, who worked a small piece of land and often had to give part of the crops to a lord. tree →
2. In some countries today, peasant means a farmer on a small farm who grows food mostly for the family. tree →
3. (rude, insult) Calling someone a peasant means they are uneducated or have bad manners; it is unkind. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons peasants appear in the feudal system: king, barons, knights, peasants (also called serfs or villeins); they lived in small houses with animals, paid taxes, and in the Peasants' Revolt they rose up against unfair taxes. In fairy tales, a clever peasant often tricks a king. In playground talk, «peasant» is used as a snobby insult — not kind. Phrases: «the Peasants' Revolt», «peasant farmers», «peasant life».

Examples

• Most people in medieval England were peasants. tree →
• The peasants worked in the lord's fields for three days a week. tree →
• In the Peasants' Revolt, peasants marched on London. tree →
• The peasant's cottage had one room shared with a cow. tree →
• In the fairy tale, a poor peasant married the princess. tree →
• «You peasant!» he said — which was very rude. tree →
• Peasant farmers in many countries still grow their own food. tree →
• "I've no money," said the peasant. tree →

Note

Plural «peasants». Spelling: peas-ant, but not related to peas. Trap: «pheasant» (with ph) is a bird; «pleasant» (with l) means nice. In history, a «serf» was a peasant who was not free to leave the land.