The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bondsman \Bonds"man\, n.; pl. Bondsmen. [Bond, a. or n. +
   man.]
   1. A slave; a villain; a serf; a bondman.
      [1913 Webster]

            Carnal, greedy people, without such a precept, would
            have no mercy upon their poor bondsmen. --Derham.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Law) A surety; one who is bound, or who gives security,
      for another.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

bondsman
    n 1: a male slave [syn: bondman, bondsman]
    2: someone who signs a bond as surety for someone else [syn:
       bondsman, bondswoman]
    3: a male bound to serve without wages [syn: bondman,
       bondsman]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

39 Moby Thesaurus words for "bondsman":
   bailsman, bondmaid, bondman, bondslave, bondswoman, captive,
   chattel, chattel slave, churl, concubine, debt slave, galley slave,
   godfather, godparent, guarantee, guarantor, guaranty, helot,
   homager, insurer, liege, liege man, liege subject, mainpernor,
   mortgagor, odalisque, peon, serf, servant, slave, sponsor, subject,
   surety, theow, thrall, underwriter, vassal, villein, warrantor



The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

BONDSMAN, n.  A fool who, having property of his own, undertakes to
become responsible for that entrusted to another to a third.
    Philippe of Orleans wishing to appoint one of his favorites, a
dissolute nobleman, to a high office, asked him what security he would
be able to give.  "I need no bondsmen," he replied, "for I can give
you my word of honor."  "And pray what may be the value of that?"
inquired the amused Regent.  "Monsieur, it is worth its weight in
gold."