VASSAL, feudal law. This was the name given to the holder of a fief, bound to perform feudal service; this word was then always correlative to that of lord, entitled to such service. 2. The vassal himself might be lord of some other vassal. 3. In aftertimes, this word was used to signify a species of slave who owed servitude, and was in a state of dependency on a superior lord. 2 Bl. Com. 53; Merl. Repert. h.t.

Source: Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
 

Vassal \Vas"sal\, n. [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.]

[1913 Webster]

1. (Feud. Law) The grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who holds land of a superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a feudal tenant. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]

2. A subject; a dependent; a servant; a bondman; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Vassal \Vas"sal\, a. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile. [1913 Webster]

The sun and every vassal star. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Vassal \Vas"sal\, v. t. To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. [Obs.]

--Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

47 Moby Thesaurus words for "vassal": bondmaid, bondman, bondslave, bondsman, bondswoman, captive, chattel, chattel slave, churl, client, concubine, creature, debt slave, dependent, feudal, feudatory, flunky, follower, galley slave, hanger-on, helot, homager, inferior, lackey, liege, liege man, liege subject, minion, myrmidon, odalisque, peon, retainer, serf, servant, servile, slave, stooge, subject, subordinate, subservient, theow, thrall, tributary, underling, understrapper, villein, yeoman

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

vassal

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Vassal \Vas"sal\, n. [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.]

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.

Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Vassal \Vas"sal\, a. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.

The sun and every vassal star. --Keble.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Vassal \Vas"sal\, v. t. To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. [Obs.]

--Beau. & Fl.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)