vassal
[ vas-uh l ]
/ ˈvæs əl /
noun
(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.
a person holding some similar relation to a superior; a subject, subordinate, follower, or retainer.
a servant or slave.
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a vassal.
having the status or position of a vassal.
Origin of vassal
1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin
vassallus, equivalent to
vass(us) servant (< Celtic; compare Welsh
gwas young man, Irish
foss servant) +
-allus noun suffix
OTHER WORDS FROM vassal
vas·sal·less, adjective non·vas·sal, noun sub·vas·sal, noun un·der·vas·sal, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH vassal
vassal vesselWords nearby vassal
vasovagal attack,
vasovagal syncope,
vasovasostomy,
vasovesiculectomy,
vassa,
vassal,
vassalage,
vassalic,
vassalize,
vassar,
vast
Example sentences from the Web for vassal
British Dictionary definitions for vassal
vassal
/ (ˈvæsəl) /
noun
(in feudal society) a man who entered into a personal relationship with a lord to whom he paid homage and fealty in return for protection and often a fief. A great vassal was in vassalage to a king and a rear vassal to a great vassal
- a person, nation, etc, in a subordinate, suppliant, or dependent position relative to another
- (as modifier)vassal status
adjective
of or relating to a vassal
Derived forms of vassal
vassal-less, adjectiveWord Origin for vassal
C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin
vassallus, from
vassus servant, of Celtic origin; compare Welsh
gwas boy, Old Irish
foss servant
Cultural definitions for vassal
vassal
Under feudalism, a subordinate who placed himself in service to a lord in return for the lord's protection.