vassal

[ vas-uhl ]

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

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a vassal.
2. having the status or position of a vassal.

vassal

/ ˈvæsəl /

noun

1. (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
2. 1. a person, nation, etc, in a subordinate, suppliant, or dependent position relative to another
   2. ( as modifier )

      vassal status

adjective

1. of or relating to a vassal

vassal

1. Under feudalism , a subordinate who placed himself in service to a lord in return for the lord's protection.

Derived Forms

• ˈvassal-less, adjective

Other Words From

• vassal·less adjective
• non·vassal noun
• sub·vassal noun
• under·vassal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vassal¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vassal¹

C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin vassallus, from vassus servant, of Celtic origin; compare Welsh gwas boy, Old Irish foss servant

Example Sentences

These highly-prized animals were also taken as tributes from vassals based in the Levant and from defeated foreign powers.

From Realm of History

Paola Dionisotti as Lady Anya Waynwood Lady Anya Waynwood is the head of House Waynwood, a powerful vassal to House Arryn.

From The Daily Beast

Which, according to party orthodoxy, would have been an economically backward, single-ideology vassal state of the Soviet Union.

From The Daily Beast

I have dared to relate this to your Majesty because of my zeal as a loyal vassal, and as one who looks at things dispassionately.

From Project Gutenberg

As vassal of the Crown and prince of the blood, Conde was bound to obey the summons of his sovereign.

From Project Gutenberg

After all he was a Moslem, and a Turkish vassal, and a consistent contemner of Russians, so wherefore should he stand aside?

From Project Gutenberg

Each of these vassal states was made to pay handsomely for its new acquisitions.

From Project Gutenberg

I loved you from the first—not like a vassal either—and will always love you.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• servant