Pē'on, n.
n. [Fr. péon, a foot-soldier in India, Sp. peon, one who travels on foot, a foot-soldier, a pawn in chess; Hind. piyādah, a foot-soldier. See PAWN.]
Sense 1. A footman; a person of low rank; as, specifically, (a.) One traveling on foot; a pedestrian. (b.) A foot-soldier; hence, in India, a native constable. (c.) A day-laborer; a servant; especially, in Mexico, a debtor held by his creditor in a form of qualified servitude, to work out a debt; a serf. (d.) A piece used in the game of chess, representing a footman; a pawn.
Sense 2. An East Indian wood used in ship-building. See POON-WOOD.
Sense 3. A hive of bees. Simmonds.