vassal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord
    feudatory; liegeman; liege; liege subject.

WordNet

Vas"sal noun
Etymology
F., fr. LL. vassallus, vassus; of Celtic origin; cf. W. & Corn. gwas a youth, page, servant, Arm. gwaz a man, a male. Cf. Valet, Varlet, Vavasor.
Definitions
  1. (Feud. Law) The grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who holds land of superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a feudal tenant. Burrill.
  2. A subject; a dependent; a servant; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." Milton.
Vas"sal adjective
Definitions
  1. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.
    The sun and every vassal star. Keble.
Vas"sal transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. Obs. Beau. & Fl.

Webster 1913