Cheliad (collective noun; singular–cheliadnyk). In Kyivan Rus’ a designation for members of the dependent population, consisting of kholopy (male slaves), zakupy (slaves through loan defaults), dependent smerds (free peasants), and others. In the Cossack period and later cheliad was applied to the servants and other permanent members of a noble's household. In some regions of Ukraine the term was used to refer to young people attending a wedding.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]