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Vassal

//ˈvæsəl// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile. not-comparable

    "Did they, quoth you? / Who sees the heavenly Rosaline / That, like a rude and savage man of Inde / At the first opening of the gorgeous east / Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind / Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?"

Noun
  1. 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. historical

    "The manor's vassals owed first fruits and a tithe to the parish church, another 10% to the lord (including at least 50 eels), a week or two each year of service in the manor's upkeep, and service in the local fyrd."

  2. 2
    a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord wordnet
  3. 3
    Any direct subordinate bound by such vows to a superior. historical

    "The king ordered his vassals to join him on the crusade unless they had a written note signed by the archbishop or pope."

  4. 4
    Any subordinate bound by similar close ties. figuratively

    "The vassals of his anger."

Verb
  1. 1
    To treat as a vassal or to reduce to the position of a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. transitive
  2. 2
    To subordinate to someone or something. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

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).

Etymology 2

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).

Etymology 3

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).

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