Where does “вольнонаёмный” come from?

вольнонаёмный (Russian) comes from Russian во́льный, from Proto-Slavic volьnъ — free, willing.

вольнонаёмный (Russian): working for hire, freelance especially of a civilian at a military institution

Definitions

  1. working for hire, freelance especially of a civilian at a military institution

Ancestry of “вольнонаёмный”, step by step

вольнонаёмный traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian во́льный

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianво́льныйfree
2Proto-Slavicvolьnъfree, willing

via Russian наём

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianнаёмrent, hire
Every word from Proto-Slavic volьnъ →Every word from Russian во́льный →