Helot

[ hel-uh t, hee-luh t ]
/ ˈhɛl ət, ˈhi lət /

noun

a member of the lowest class in ancient Laconia, constituting a body of serfs who were bound to the land and were owned by the state. Compare Perioeci, Spartiate.
(lowercase) a serf or slave; bondman.

Origin of Helot

1570–80; < Latin hēlōtēs (plural) < Greek heílōtes

OTHER WORDS FROM Helot

hel·ot·age, noun

British Dictionary definitions for helotage

Helot
/ (ˈhɛlət, ˈhiː-) /

noun

(in ancient Greece, esp Sparta) a member of the class of unfree men above slaves owned by the state
(usually not capital) a serf or slave

Word Origin for Helot

C16: from Latin Hēlotēs, from Greek Heilōtes, alleged to have meant originally: inhabitants of Helos, who, after its conquest, were serfs of the Spartans