hireling

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English hirlyng, from Old English hȳrling (“hireling, employee”), from Proto-West Germanic *hūʀijuling. Cognate with West Frisian hierling, Dutch huurling (“hireling, mercenary”), German Low German Hüürling, German Heuerling. By surface analysis, hire +‎ -ling. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈhaɪ.ə.lɪŋ/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈhaɪɹˌlɪŋ/ === Noun === hireling (plural hirelings) (usually derogatory) An employee who is hired, often to perform unpleasant tasks with little independence. (usually derogatory) Someone who does a job purely for money, rather than out of interest in the work itself. A horse for hire. (obsolete) A prostitute. ==== Synonyms ==== flunky lackey mercenary ==== Translations ==== === See also === underling === Anagrams === heirling