FIELD HAND Meaning and
Definition
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A "field hand" refers to an individual who is employed to work in the fields, particularly in the context of agricultural labor. The term predominantly emerged during the era of plantation economies, particularly in the United States during the period of chattel slavery. Field hands were predominantly enslaved Black individuals who were forced to toil in the fields, cultivating crops such as cotton, tobacco, and rice. They formed an essential labor force on large plantations, working under the control and supervision of their owners or overseers.
Field hands generally performed physically demanding tasks such as planting, weeding, irrigating, harvesting, and processing crops. They were often subjected to long and grueling workdays, enduring oppressive conditions and hardship. Field hands were typically deprived of any personal freedom, treated as property, and subjected to exploitation and abuse.
The term "field hand" can also be applied to individuals who work as agricultural laborers in modern contexts, where they are engaged in similar tasks of farming and crop production. These individuals may be employed in cultivating various crops, tending to livestock, fencing, irrigating, and operating machinery. The work of field hands, in modern contexts, is governed by labor laws and regulations which seek to protect their rights and ensure safe working conditions. However, the historical legacy of the term "field hand" is deeply rooted in the brutal history of chattel slavery in America.
Common Misspellings for FIELD HAND
Etymology of FIELD HAND
The word "field hand" has a straightforward etymology. "Field" refers to an open piece of land or a cultivated area typically used for planting crops, while "hand" refers to a worker or laborer. Therefore, a "field hand" is a laborer who works in the fields, primarily involved in agricultural tasks such as planting, harvesting, and tending to crops.
Similar spelling words for FIELD HAND
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