c.1225, from O.Fr., noun use of
servant "serving, waiting," prp. of
servir "to attend, wait upon" (see
serve). Meaning "professed lover, one devoted to the service of a lady" is from c.1368. In N.American colonies and U.S., the usual designation for "slave" 17c.-18c. (in 14c.-15c. and later in Biblical translations the word often was used to render L.
servus, Gk.
doulos "slave").
Public servant is attested from 1676.
[sur-vuh
nt] 