Sērf, n.

(14), n. [Fr. serf, Pr. serv, ser, Sp. siervo, It. & Pg. servo, Lat. servus.] A servant or slave employed in husbandry, and, in some countries, attached to the soil, and transferred with it, as formerly in Russia.

Synonyms— Slave; servant. — SERF, SLAVE. A slave is the absolute property of his master, and may be sold in any way. A serf, according to the strict sense of the term, is one bound to work on a certain estate, and thus attached to the soil, and sold with it into the service of another. In some countries, however, serfs are mere slaves.