thrall

Etymology 1

From Middle English thral, thralle, threl, threlle, from Old English þrǣl (“thrall, slave, servant”), from Old Norse þræll (“slave”), from Proto-Germanic *þrahilaz, *þragilaz, *þrigilaz (“runner, gofer, servant”), from Proto-Indo-European *trāgʰ- (“to pull, drag, race, run”); according to ODS probably related to Gothic 𐌸𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (þragjan), Old English þrǣġan (“to run”).

noun

1. One who is enslaved or under mind control.
   And there were household slaves in golden collars that burned of a plenty there with her, and nine female thralls, and eight male slaves of the Angles that were of gentle birth and battle-captured. 1915, Jack London, The Star Rover
2. (uncountable) The state of being under the control of another person.
   Go: release him from the thrall of Hautia. 1864, Herman Melville, Mardi
   In her brain she was dimly conscious of balancing, or striving to balance, the abject shame which had him now in thrall against the one compelling act of courage which had flung him grandly and madly on to the point of danger. 1911, Saki, The Easter Egg
   A more enlightened Conservative prime minister, better attuned to the “one nation” tradition of the party of Disraeli and Macmillan, less in thrall to Little Englanders, and less intimidated by the peculiarly vicious and Manichaean worldview of the Daily Mail, would have taken a more consensual approach. March 27, 2017, “The Observer view on triggering article 50”, in The Observer
   Labour needs to engage positively with the unions on wider policy issues, but not be in thrall with them. November 16 2022, Paul Salveson, “Labour and transport: the important role of the regions”, in RAIL, number 970, page 31
3. A shelf; a stand for barrels, etc.

adj

1. (archaic) Enthralled; captive.
   Rather than to live thrall, under the awe Of lordly lokes, wrapped within my cloke […] 1536, Thomas Wyatt, Satire I

Etymology 2

From Middle English thrallen, from the noun above. Compare Old Norse þræla.

verb

1. To make a thrall; enslave.