GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Peon , n. See Poon.
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2.       
   Peon, n. [Sp. peon, or Pg. peo, one who travels on foot, a foot soldier, a pawn in chess. See Pawn in chess.]
   A foot soldier; a policeman; also, an office attendant; a messenger. [India]
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   A day laborer; a servant; especially, in some of the Spanish American countries, debtor held by his creditor in a form of qualified servitude, to work out a debt.
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   (Chess) See 2d Pawn.
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3.       
   Poon , n. [Canarese ponne.] A name for several East Indian, or their wood, used for the masts and spars of vessels, as Calophyllum angustifolium, Calophyllum inophullum, and Sterculia fœtida; -- called also peon.
   1913 Webster