1902, from free-lance (n.). Related: Freelancer (1898); freelanced; freelancing.
Entries linking to freelance
free-lance n.
also freelance, "medieval mercenary warrior," 1820 ("Ivanhoe"), from free (adj.) + lance (n.); apparently a coinage of Sir Walter Scott's. The description of them resembles that of the Italian condottieri. Figurative sense is from 1864; specifically of journalism by 1882.