ETYM Cf. French esclave, Dutch slaaf, Dan. slave, sclave, Swed. slaf, all from German sklave, Mid. High Germ. also slave, from the national name of the Slavonians, or Sclavonians (in Late Lat. Slavi or Sclavi), who were frequently made slaves by the Germans. Related to Slav.
1. A person who is owned by someone.
2. Someone who works as hard as a slave; SYN. striver, hard worker.