pe·on / ˈpēˌän; ˈpēən/ • n. 1. a Spanish-American day laborer or unskilled farm worker. ∎ hist. a debtor held in servitude by a creditor, esp. in the southern U.S. and Mexico. ∎  a person who does menial work; a drudge: racing drivers aren't exactly normal nine-to-five peons.2. (in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) someone of low rank. ∎  a foot soldier. ∎  an attendant or messenger. ∎  a person who does minor jobs in an office. DERIVATIVES: pe·on·age / ˈpēənij/ n.

peon (in India) foot-soldier, orderly XVII; (in Sp. America) day-labourer XIX. — Pg. peāo and Sp. peon :— medL. pedō, -ōn- one who goes on foot (in classL. broad-footed man), f. pēs, ped- FOOT.