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A subject; a dependent; a servant; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." Milton. Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal.

The state of being a vassal, or feudatory.

A female vassal. [R.] Spenser.

The body of vassals. [R.]

To make a vassal of. [Obs.]

A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his lord on special occasions. Blackstone.

A vassal or voluntary follower of Frankish princes in their enterprises.

ief, a fee or fief dependent on a superior fee, or a fee held of a feudatory. -- Arriere vassal, the vassal of a vassal.

oclamation, as of the French kings, calling not only their immediate feudatories, but the vassals of these feudatories, to take the field for war; also, the body of vassals called or liable to be called to arms, as in ancient France.

or transfer homage and service, from one lord to another. This is the act of feudatories, vassals, or tenants, upon the alienation of the estate. Blackstone.

The act of a feudatory, vassal, or tenant, by which he consents, upon the alienation of an estate, to receive a new lord or superior, and transfers to him his homage and service; the agreement of a tenant to acknowledge the purchaser of the estate as his landlord. Burrill. Blackstone.

A calling together of the king's (esp. the French king's) vassals for military service; also, the body of vassals thus assembled or summoned. In present usage, in France and Prussia, the most effective part of the population liable to military duty and not in the standing army.

Originally, a knight who led his vassals into the field under his own banner; -- commonly used as a title of rank.

A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice and uses its proceeds. Ayliffe.

A military vassal mentioned in Domesday Book. [Obs.] Burrill.

To give in vassalage; to make subservient. [Obs.] [The king] enfeoffed himself to popularity. Shak.

Fidelity to one's lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant or vassal was bound to be faithful to his lord; the special oath by which this obligation was assumed; fidelity to a superior power, or to a government; loyality. It is no longer the practice to exact the performance of fealty, as a feudal obligation. Wh…

An act on the part of the vassal which cost him his fee by forfeiture. Burrill.

tuitous right to lands made to one for service to be performed by him; a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money. Burrill.

A stipendiary estate in land, held of superior, by service; the right which a vassal or tenant had to the lands or other immovable thing of his lord, to use the same and take the profists thereof hereditarily, rendering to his superior such duties and services as belong to military tenure, etc., the property of the soi…