A laborer who is generally unskilled and works for low wages, often in a menial job. The peon worked tirelessly in the fields from dawn until dusk.
In some countries, a person who is bound in servitude to a landlord creditor. The peon was unable to leave the estate until his debts were paid off.
In a corporate or organizational context, a person who does menial or repetitive tasks and has little authority or status. Despite his hard work, he felt like just another peon in the large corporation.