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vassal

8 dictionary results for: vassal

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

vas·sal

[vas-uh

l] Pronunciation Key

–noun

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.

–adjective

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.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

vas·sal (vās'əl) Pronunciation Key
n.

A person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for homage and allegiance.
A bondman; a slave.
A subordinate or dependent.

[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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

vassal
noun
a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord

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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
vassal

Under feudalism, a subordinate who placed himself in service to a lord in return for the lord's protection.

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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.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Vassal

Vas"sal\, a. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.

The sun and every vassal star. --Keble.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Vassal

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

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