- free-lance (n.)
[free-lance 词源字典]
- also freelance, "medieval mercenary warrior," 1820 ("Ivanhoe"), from free (adj.) + lance (n.); apparently a coinage of Sir Walter Scott's. The description of them resembles that of the Italian condottieri. Figurative sense is from 1864; specifically of journalism by 1882.[free-lance etymology, free-lance origin, 英语词源]