Free-lance

noun
1.
a mercenary soldier or military adventurer of the Middle Ages, often of knightly rank, who offered his services to any state, party, or cause.
2.
(defs 1, 2).
[free-lans, -lahns, -lans, -lahns] /ˈfriˌlæns, -ˌlɑns, -ˈlæns, -ˈlɑns/
noun, Also, .
1.
Also, freelancer. a person who works as a writer, designer, performer, or the like, selling work or services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.
2.
a person who contends in a cause or in a succession of various causes, as he or she chooses, without personal attachment or allegiance.
verb (used without object), freelanced, freelancing.
3.
to act or work as a freelance:
The illustrator used to be employed by us but is freelancing now.
verb (used with object), freelanced, freelancing.
4.
to produce, sell, or accomplish as a freelance:
to freelance a magazine article.
adjective
5.
of or relating to a freelance or the work of a freelance:
a freelance writer; freelance copyediting.
adverb
6.
in the manner of a freelance:
She works freelance.
/ˈfriːˌlɑːns/
noun
1.

2.
a person, esp a politician, who supports several causes or parties without total commitment to any one
3.
(in medieval Europe) a mercenary soldier or adventurer
verb
4.
to work as a freelance on (an assignment, etc)
adverb
5.
as a freelance
n.

also free lance, free-lance, “medieval mercenary warrior,” 1820 (“Ivanhoe”), from free (adj.) + lance (n.); apparently a coinage of Sir Walter Scott’s. Figurative sense is from 1864; specifically of journalism by 1882.
v.

1902, from freelance (n.). Related: Freelancer (1898); freelanced; freelancing.