metic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an alien who paid a fee to reside in an ancient Greek city

WordNet

Met"ic noun
Etymology
Gr. , prop., changing one's abode; , indicating change + house, abode: cf. L. metoecus, F. métèque.
Definitions
  1. (Gr. Antiq.) A sojourner; an immigrant; an alien resident in a Grecian city, but not a citizen. Mitford.
    The whole force of Athens, metics as well as citizens, and all the strangers who were then in the city. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

Webster 1913