English Explanatory Dictionary

vassal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The grantee of a fief, a subordinate granted use of a superior's land and its income in exchange for vows of fidelity and homage and (typically) military service.
  2. Any direct subordinate bound by such vows to a superior.
  3. Any subordinate bound by similar close ties.
adj
  1. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.
verb
  1. To treat as a vassal or to reduce to the position of a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave.
  2. To subordinate to someone or something.

Pronunciation

/ˈvæsəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-vassal.wav

Word forms

vassal vassals vasal vassaling vassalling vassaled vassalled

Etymology

From Middle English vassal, from Old French vassal, from Medieval Latin vassallus (“manservant, domestic, retainer”), from Latin vassus (“servant”), from Gaulish *wassos (“young man, squire”), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (“servant”) (compare Old Irish foss and Welsh gwas).

Synonyms

feudatory feudal tenant subject dependant bondsman villein serf helot thrall servant slave

Related words

liegeman valet varlet

Derived words

envassal vassalage vassaldom vassaless vassalhood vassalic vassal-in-chief vassalize vassalry vassalship vassal state
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