helot

Helot \He"lot\ (?; 277), n. [L. Helotes, Hilotae, pl., fr. Gr. E'e`lws and E'elw`ths a bondman or serf of the Spartans; so named from 'Elos, a town of Laconia, whose inhabitants were enslaved; or perh. akin to e`lei^n to take, conquer, used as 2d aor. of ?.] A slave in ancient Sparta; a Spartan serf; hence, a slave or serf. [1913 Webster]