Vassal
8 dictionary results for: Vassal
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
vas·sal 
[vas-uhl] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[vas-uhl] Pronunciation Key –noun
–adjective
| 1. | (in the feudal system) a person granted the use of land, in return for rendering homage, fealty, and usually military service or its equivalent to a lord or other superior; feudal tenant. |
| 2. | a person holding some similar relation to a superior; a subject, subordinate, follower, or retainer. |
| 3. | a servant or slave. |
| 4. | of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a vassal. |
| 5. | having the status or position of a vassal. |
[Origin: 1300–50; ME < MF < ML vassallus, equiv. to vass(us) servant (< Celtic; cf. Welsh gwas young man, Ir foss servant) + -allus n. suffix]
] —Related forms
vas·sal·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| vas·sal
(vās'əl) Pronunciation Key
n.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *vassallus, from *vassus, of Celtic origin; see upo in Indo-European roots.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
vassal (n.)
vassal (n.)
1303 (implied in vassalage) "tenant who pledges fealty to a lord," from O.Fr. vassal, from M.L. vassallus "manservant, domestic, retainer," from vassus "servant," from O.Celt. *wasso- "young man, squire" (cf. Welsh gwas "youth, servant," Bret. goaz "servant, vassal, man," Ir. foss "servant"). The adj. is recorded from 1593.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| vassal | |
noun | |
| a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
vassal
[Chapter:] World History to 1550
vassal
Under feudalism, a subordinate who placed himself in service to a lord in return for the lord's protection.
[Chapter:] World History to 1550
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Vassal
Val"et\ (?; 277), n. [F. valet, OF. vallet, varlet, vaslet. See Varlet, and Vassal.]1. A male waiting servant; a servant who attends on gentleman's person; a body servant. 2. (Man.) A kind of goad or stick with a point of iron. Valet de chambre[F.], a body servant, or personal attendant.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Vassal
Var"let\, n. [OF. varlet, vaslet, vallet, servant, young man, young noble, dim of vassal. See Vassal, and cf. Valet.]1. A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman. [Obs.] --Spenser. Tusser. 2. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as, an impudent varlet. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou ! --Shak. 3. In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.]1. (Feud. Law) The grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who holds land of superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a feudal tenant. --Burrill. 2. A subject; a dependent; a servant; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." --Milton. Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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