helot Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
    serf; villein.

WordNet

He"lot noun
Etymology
L. Helotes, Hilotae, pl., fr. Gr. E'e`lws and E'elw`ths a bondman or serf of the Spartans; so named from 'Elos, a town of Laconia, whose inhabitants were enslaved; or perh. akin to e`lei^n to take, conquer, used as 2d aor. of .
Definitions
  1. A slave in ancient Sparta; a Spartan serf; hence, a slave or serf.
    Those unfortunates, the Helots of mankind, more or less numerous in every community. I. Taylor.

Webster 1913