Vassal

Definitions

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
2. Any direct subordinate bound by such vows to a superior.
   historical
3. Any subordinate bound by similar close ties.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“It was superimposed on rules of conduct evolved at an earlier date⟳ as the spontaneous expression of class consciousness; rules that pertained to the fealty of vassals (the transition appears clearly, towards the end⟳ of the eleventh century, in the Book of the Christian Life by Bishop Bonizo of Sutri, for whom the knight is, first and foremost, an enfeoffed vassal ) and constituted above all a class code of noble and 'courteous' people.”

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

“The vassals of his anger.”

CEFR level