theow

See also: þeow

English

Etymology

From Middle English theu, thewe (“servant; one bound in service to another, serf; disciple or servant of God; created being; servant of the devil; (figuratively) servant to sin, wealth, etc.”) [and other forms], from Old English þēow, þēo (“servant; slave”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *þeu (“slave”), from Proto-Germanic *þewaz, *þegwaz (“servant; slave”), from Proto-Indo-European *tekwos (“runner”), from Proto-Indo-European *tekʷ- (“to run; to flow”).

cognates

• Dutch dienen (“to serve”)
• German dienen (“to serve”)
• Gothic 𐌸𐌹𐌿𐍃 (þius, “bondman, slave; servant”)
• Old English þegn (“servant; minister; vassal”)
• Old High German dio (“unfree”), diu (“servant”)

Noun

theow (plural theows)

1. (historical) A bondman or bondwoman; a slave.

   Synonym: thrall