A more thorough explanation:

Definition: A bondman is someone who is either a surety for a bond or a serf/peasant.

Examples:

• John acted as a bondsman for his friend's bail money.
• In medieval times, bondmen were often tied to the land they worked on and were not allowed to leave without permission from their lord.

The first example illustrates the definition's first sense, where a bondsman is someone who guarantees a bond. John is acting as a surety for his friend's bail money, meaning he is responsible for ensuring that the money is paid if his friend fails to appear in court.

The second example illustrates the definition's second sense, where a bondman is a serf or peasant. In medieval times, many people were tied to the land they worked on and were not allowed to leave without permission from their lord. These people were often referred to as bondmen.