(in ancient Greece, esp Sparta) a member of the class of unfree men above slaves owned by the state
2. (usually not capital)
a serf or slave
Word origin
C16: from Latin Hēlotēs, from Greek Heilōtes, alleged to have meant originally: inhabitants of Helos, who, after its conquest,were serfs of the Spartans
Helot in American English
(ˈhɛlət)
noun
1.
a member of the lowest class of serfs in ancient Sparta
2. [h-]
any serf or slave
Word origin
L Helotes, Hilotae, pl. < Gr Heilōtes, pl., taken as after Helos, town in Laconia whose inhabitants were enslaved by the Spartans, but < ? base ofhaliskesthai, to be captured < IE base *wel-, to tear, injure > L vellere, to pluck, tear away
Helot in American English
(ˈhelət, ˈhilət)
noun
1.
a member of the lowest class in ancient Laconia, constituting a body of serfs who were bound to the land and were owned by the state