HAIDUK, a term probably derived from the Turkish haidiid, "marauder." The Haiduks of Serbia and Bulgaria were political outlaws and guerrilla champions of liberty; and the national movement in these countries was first led by bands of Haiduks.
In Hungary the name was applied to a class of mercenary foot soldiers of Magyar stock. In 1605 these Haiduks were re warded for their fidelity to the Protestant Party (see HUNGARY: History) with titles of nobility and territorial rights over a district situated on the left bank of the river Theiss, known thenceforward as the Haiduk region. This was enlarged in 1876 and converted into the county of Hajdu. In Austria-Hungary, Germany, Poland, Sweden and some other countries, Haiduk came to mean an attendant in court of law, or a male servant, dressed in Hungarian semi-military costume. It is also occasionally used as a synonym for "footman" or "lackey."