1. Hist. A person bound by an indenture to work for an employer for a specified period to learn a craft, trade, or profession.
“Apprentices, in the strict legal sense, are servants, usually but not necessarily infants, who agree to serve their masters with a view to learning some trade or business, and whose masters on their part agree to instruct them. The contract is usually for a term of years and is normally embodied in a deed, in which case the apprentice is said to be bound by an indenture of apprenticeship. It is customary for the father of the apprentice (or some person standing in loco parentis), as well as the apprentice himself to execute the deed or other instrument, and thus become liable for the due observance by the apprentice of his obligations thereunder. When an apprentice deliberately misconducts himself in such a way that, in the case of any other servant, his behaviour would amount to a repudiation of the agreement, and thereupon the master decides to accept the repudiation and dismisses him, the apprentice’s repudiation is not effective, and the contract is not terminated, unless the Court find that such a course would be for the infant’s benefit. Otherwise the infant could do indirectly what he could not do directly — namely, bring about a rescission of the contract.” 2 Stephen’s Commentaries on the Laws of England 133–34 (L. Crispin Warmington ed., 21st ed. 1950).
2. A learner in any field of employment or business, esp. one who learns by hands-on experience or technical on-the-job training.
