De slaaf
Example: De slaaf werkte hard op het plantageveld elke dag.
Definition
"De slaaf" refers to a person who is legally owned by someone else and forced to work without pay, often under harsh conditions. Historically, "de slaaf" was deprived of freedom and subjected to the control of a master, especially in contexts like plantations.
Etymology
The word "de slaaf" originates from the Dutch language and is derived from the Old Dutch term related to servitude. Its roots trace back to the Latin word 'sclavus,' meaning 'slave,' which itself comes from the name of the Slavic peoples, who were often captured and enslaved in medieval Europe. Did you know? The term reflects a historical association between ethnicity and enslavement.
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"De slaaf" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - History - (A2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used words.
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