vassal (redirected from Vassals)

vas·sal  (vsl)

n.

1. A person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for homage and allegiance.

2. A bondman; a slave.

3. A subordinate or dependent.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *vassallus, from *vassus, of Celtic origin; see upo in Indo-European roots.]

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vassal [ˈvæs^əl]

n

1. (Historical Terms) (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (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.

a.  a person, nation, etc., in a subordinate, suppliant, or dependent position relative to another

b.  (as modifier) vassal status

adj

(Historical Terms) (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) of or relating to a vassal

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

vassal-less  adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

vassal - a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord feudatory, liege, liege subject, liegeman follower - a person who accepts the leadership of another

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vassal

noun serf, slave, bondsman, subject, retainer, thrall, varlet (archaic), bondservant, liegeman the vassal's oath of homage to his lord

Translations

vassal [ˈvæsəl] N → vasallo m

vassal

n (lit, fig) → Vasall m

adj → vasallisch, Vasallen-; vassal state → Vasallenstaat m