henchman en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈhɛnt͡ʃ.mən/
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *hangistaz Proto-West Germanic *hangist Old English henġest Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Old English *henġestmann Middle English henxman English henchman Inherited from Middle English henxman (“page, attendant”), from Old English *henġestmann, *hengstmann (“groom”, literally “horseman”), from henġest (“stallion, horse, steed, gelding”) + mann (“man”). Akin to archaic German Hengstmann (“groom”) and Icelandic hestamaður (“horseman, groom”).
Meanings
- A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate.
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A person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests.
The battle to be the absolute worst Trump henchman can feel so closely fought. But in the end, it’s always JD Vance, isn’t it?
2026 April 17, Marina Hyde, “Is the pope Catholic? JD Vance thinks he has an answer”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:In appreciation for his service of railroading Frank, the power-brokering Watson sent his venal henchman Dorsey to the U.S. Congress for two terms .
1998, Jay Robert Nash, Terrorism in the 20th Century, page 78:It is madness to commence war against the audacious despots under any leader like Lafayette, the traitor and venal henchman of despotism, against whom the cries of the patriots murdered on July 17 call to Heaven.
1916, The History of Nations - Volume 10, page 165:The glib sophistries of the special pleader and the verdant gullibility of the public; the ridiculous, now happily fast disappearing partisan bias of the voter and the venal instincts of the political henchman; the lack of proper moral stamina in much of our public press, and the tardiness of practical public appreciation where journals are true to the people's interests the fear of the vengeance;
1906, W. G. Joerns, “The Railroad Hold-up”, in Watson's Magazine, volume 5, page 397:The practice of doubling in this production further emphasizes the ascendancy of corporeal decay and violence in the tetralogy, for, in addition to Cade, Oliver Cotton also appears as the seductive cuckold-maker Suffolk and, in the final of the three installments of The Plantagenets, as Richard of Gloucester's venal and Machiavellian henchman, the Duke of Buckingham .
2005, Christian Riegel, Response to Death: The Literary Work of Mourning, page 53:the great task confronting humankind today in effecting government that is worth its powder and shot is not regularity of attendance at the polls so much as in the intelligent analysis of the true leader from the henchman seeking selfish profit from the filling of an office.
1935, William Dudley Pelley, Nations-in-law: an Unconventional Analysis Cleaning the Barnacles from the Ship of State:
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An assistant member of a criminal gang.
Most of the carpet joints were run by the mobsters and local henchmen associated with the Mayfield Road Gang, but Peter Schmidt's Playtorium and Glenn Rendezvous were also included.
2014, Paul A. Tenkotte, James C. Claypool, The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky, page 385:Johnny Genaro, chief of staff to Al Capone, was “put on the spot” in a crowded street in Chicago on Saturday night.
1931 March 24, “AL CAPONE'S HENCHMAN MURDERED”, in Tuesday Express:
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(obsolete) A page to a prince or other person of high rank.
Henchmen had placed, as was their habit, each warrior's gear and trappings above his pile of skins.
1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 33:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| henchmen | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
henchmanship · henchboy · hench
Descendants
Synonyms
hireling · man Friday · footman · aide · yes man · lackey · lickspittle · stooge · adjutant · right-hand woman · henchman · vassal · toady · inferior · satrap · retainer · poodle · sycophant · myrmidon · bootlicker · lap dog · servant · underling · minion · follower · subordinate · disciple · right-hand man · flunkey · acolyte
Translations (115)
hu lakáj (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · ru побо́рник (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · es esbirro (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · fi apuri (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sv hantlangare (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · ru шестёрка (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · nl aanhanger (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · tr uşak (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · sv underlydare (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl zausznik (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · de Handlangerin (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · ru после́дователь (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · hu verőember (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ru приспе́шник (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it malandrino (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · fr gangster (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · hu híve (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · is bófi (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ru подпева́ла (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · ru сторо́нник (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl poplecznik (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sv hejduk (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · tr çıkarcı yardımcı (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · fi aseenkantaja (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · eo sbiro (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · it gangster (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · fr sbire (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it complice (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · tr yandaş (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · sk gorila (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · de Sbirre (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sk služobník (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · fr séide (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sv dräng (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl zbir (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ru поде́льник (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · pl zausznik (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl gangster (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · hu fogdmeg (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ca esbirro (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ru ма́льчик на побегу́шках (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · it malavitoso (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · it scagnozzo (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · ar ذَنَب (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sv tjänare (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · nl volgeling (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · sk gangster (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · nl trawant (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · sv sbirr (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · fr acolyte (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · de Handlanger (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl poplecznik (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · ru приспе́шник (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · ru сторо́нник (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · nl aanhanger (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · is handlangari (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · it malvivente (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · hu pribék (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · oc esbirro (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · de Spießgeselle (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · hu gorilla (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · fr homme de main (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · hu szolga (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · el μπράβος (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · tr yardımcı (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · de Anhänger (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · da håndlanger (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · nl handlanger (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · is handbendi (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · bg последовател (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · fi kätyri (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl stronnik (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · nl handlanger (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · cs kumpán (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · is skósveinn (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · nl volgeling (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · nb medsammensvoren (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · it complice (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · fr sbire (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ms konco (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · is áhangandi (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · sv skyddsling (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it tirapiedi (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · ru при́хвостень (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · de Scherge (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · is handbendi (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · cs nohsled (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · ru при́хвостень (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sk poskok (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · de Anhängerin (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · is fylgismaður (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · pt capanga class noun (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · pl stronnik (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · fi aseenkantaja (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · cs stoupenec (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · sk pravá ruka (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · fr sous-fifre (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · is handlangari (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it sostenitore (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · es esbirro (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · de Gefolgsmann (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · sk služobníčka (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · fi rikollisjengin jäsen (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · is aðdáandi (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · bg привърженик (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it braccio destro (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · hu csatlós (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · hu bérenc (a person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests) · bg мутра (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · fi käskyläinen (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it seguace (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it sbirro (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it accolito (a loyal and trusted follower or subordinate) · it bandito (an assistant member of a criminal gang) · nl meeloper (an assistant member of a criminal gang)