From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Peasant \Peas"ant\, n. [OF. pa["i]sant (the i being perh. due to
confusion with the p. pr. of verbs), pa["i]san, F. paysan,
fr. OF. & F. pays country, fr. L. pagus the country. See
Pagan.]
A countryman; a rustic; especially, one of the lowest class
of tillers of the soil in European countries.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Countryman; rustic; swain; hind.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Peasant \Peas"ant\, a.
Rustic, rural. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]