During colonial times, many peasants were forced to become peons on the estates.

peons 是 peon 的复数形式。peon 源自西班牙语，指"劳工、苦力"，特指在拉丁美洲被迫从事低薪体力劳动的工人，常带有被压迫、受剥削的负面含义。这个词在殖民时期常用来指代被强制劳动的底层农民。