The term Knecht (plural Knechte; from OHG chneht, MHG kneht; cf. Dutch knecht) originally meant a (young) man. By the 12th century at the latest, the meaning had narrowed to males in a serving or learning position – a Bäckerknecht was a journeyman baker, a Metzgerknecht a journeyman butcher (Journeymen; Crafts and trades); compare also Henkersknecht (“hangman’s assistant”) and Edelknecht (“squire”). In the early modern period, however, the term referred prim…