What does "peon" mean?

A lowly person; a peasant or serf; a labourer who is obliged to do menial work.

Peon

Common synonyms include: apple polisher, apple-polisher, ass-licker, backscratcher, backslapper, bondmaid.

/ˈpiː.ən/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
A lowly person; a peasant or serf; a labourer who is obliged to do menial work.
2
a laborer who is obliged to do menial work wordnet
3
A person of low rank or importance. figuratively
"He is well dressed in cheap clothing. Like an office peon whose wife works in a laundry."
4
A messenger, foot soldier, or native policeman. India, historical

"The boss treats her like a peon."

From a combination of Middle French pion, peon and Spanish peón, both from Late Latin pedōnem (“pedestrian”). Doublet of pawn.