1. A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate.
2. A person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests.
3. A member of a criminal gang.
4. Obsolete. A page to a prince or other person of high rank.

[Middle English hengsman, henshman, servant to a person of rank : hengest, horse (from Old English) + man, man; see man.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.