[vas-uh
l] 
| 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. |
| vas·sal (vās'əl) n.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *vassallus, from *vassus, of Celtic origin; see upo in Indo-European roots.] |
Under feudalism, a subordinate who placed himself in service to a lord in return for the lord's protection.