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vassal

Pronunciation: /ˈvæsəl/

The English word “vassal” has 6 meanings listed here.

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.

adjective

  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.

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).

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