VASSAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vassal mean? 

• VASSAL (noun)
  The noun VASSAL has 1 sense:

1. a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord

  Familiarity information: VASSAL used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VASSAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

feudatory; liege; liege subject; liegeman; vassal

Hypernyms ("vassal" is a kind of...):

follower (a person who accepts the leadership of another)

 Context examples 

Which signifies in our speech: 'To the very powerful and very honorable knight, Sir Nigel Loring of Christchurch, from his very faithful friend Sir Claude Latour, captain of the White Company, chatelain of Biscar, grand lord of Montchateau and vassal to the renowned Gaston, Count of Foix, who holds the rights of the high justice, the middle and the low.'

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I then said to the queen, since I was now her majesty’s most humble creature and vassal, I must beg the favour, that Glumdalclitch, who had always tended me with so much care and kindness, and understood to do it so well, might be admitted into her service, and continue to be my nurse and instructor.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)