Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Proletary
Prol′e·ta·ry (prŏl′ē·tā·ry̆ or prō′lē·), n.; pl. Proletaries (#). [ L. proletarius, fr. proles offspring. Cf. Prolétaire.] (Rom. Antiq.) A citizen of the lowest class, who served the state, not with property, but only by having children; hence, a common person.