According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, freelance comes from:
"medieval mercenary warrior," 1820, from free + lance; apparently a coinage of Sir Walter Scott’s. Fig. sense is from 1864; the verb is first attested 1903.
Free:
O.E. freo "free, exempt from, not in bondage," also "noble, joyful," from P.Gmc
Lance:
c.1290, from O.Fr. lance, from L. lancea "light spear"
Obviously, the "free" in freelance doesn’t refer to the price. In fact, comparing a modern freelancer to a mercenary implies that he lacks any sense of loyalty or belief in the mission, and is working solely for the financial reward. While this may cheapen the freelancer’s role from a philosophical point of view, it can be useful when you’re looking for a soldier or tool to follow your direction and trust your vision.
Israelis are notorious for getting overly involved in a project. Foreigners are often shocked by an Israeli partner, employee, or freelancer’s honesty and persistence about a project or the perceived problems therein. If properly managed, this is an incredible asset to the project, but freelancers in particular must recognize their role and know when to accept a decision from above.
The warrior spirit of a freelancer knows how to enter a job, play his role with his complete enthusiasm, and then move on. He has to be the best person for the job, fully trained and self-disciplined, with little dependence on a ruling system to protect him. His self-confidence must be at peak levels to handle any job, and the free time between jobs, when available. He desires the independence and revels in it, able to work with anyone and be subjugated to none.
What makes you a great freelancer?