Land-worker from a lesser family (4)
I believe the answer is:
serf
'land-worker' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'from a lesser family' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'SERF' is hidden in the letters of 'lesser family'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for serf that I've seen before include "(In the Middle Ages) someone bound to the land" , "'In the Middle Ages, a person owned by a feudal lord (4)'" , "Worker bound" , "Feudal peasant" , "Old worker" .)