henchman English · revision 1192

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɛnt͡ʃ.mən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''hengestman'', ''henshman'' “groom; servant to a person of rank”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|ang|hengest|mann|t1=horse, stallion|t2=man]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Old English ''hengest'' is related to German ''Hengst'' “stallion”^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and comes from [[gem-pro|*hangistaz]], perhaps literally “best at springing”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Etymonline suggests the compound was modelled on Old Norse ''hesta-maðr'' “horse-boy, groom”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A squire or page of honour who walked or rode beside a prince or great man (1360);^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) the word probably meant a groom originally.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word became obsolete in England in the 17th century^(Etymonline) but survived in Scotland for the personal attendant of a Highland chief (about 1730),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and Walter Scott's novels revived it.^(Etymonline) From 1839 it meant a stout political supporter,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and especially in the U.S. a follower who serves out of self-interest,^(OED 1989) from which came the sense of a ruthless subordinate or member of a criminal gang.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1360 – a page or squire to a great man.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1463–64 – ''henshman''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1730 – the attendant of a Highland chief.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1839 – an obedient or unscrupulous follower.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A loyal and trusted follower or [[subordinate]]; a right-hand man.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person who supports a political figure chiefly for personal gain.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A ruthless subordinate, especially a member of a criminal [[gang]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' A [[page]] or [[squire]] to a prince or other person of high rank.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[henchmanship]]

+ * [[hench]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hengest]]

+ * [[marshal]]

+ * [[groom]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''flunky'', ''lackey'' and ''cohort'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}