Henchman referred originally to one who attended a horse for his employer, that is, a
horse groom. Hence, like
constable and
marshal, also originally stable staff,
henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household. It is now used to generally describe any person with subordinate status derisively, while most often used specifically to a hired
body or
security guard of a powerful and feared
criminal such as a mob boss.