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vassals - 2 dictionary results

vas⋅sal

  [vas-uhl]
Use vassals in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To vassals
vas·sal   (vās'əl)   
n.  
  1. A person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for homage and allegiance.
  2. A bondman; a slave.
  3. A subordinate or dependent.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *vassallus, from *vassus, of Celtic origin; see upo in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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