vassal

Noun
Synonyms: liegeliegemanliege subjectfeudatory

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lordSynonyms: liegeliegemanliege subjectfeudatory
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Vassal \Vas"sal\, n. [F., fr. LL. vassallus, vassus; of Celtic origin; cf. W. & Corn. gwas a youth, page, servant, Arm. gwaz a man, a male. Cf. Valet, Varlet, Vavasor.] [1913 Webster]

1.(Feud. Law) The grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who holds land of a superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a feudal tenant. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]

2.A subject; a dependent; a servant; a bondman; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal. [1913 Webster]

Vassal \Vas"sal\, a. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile. [1913 Webster]

The sun and every vassal star. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

Vassal \Vas"sal\, v. t. To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
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