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See Villain, 1.

f two natures. Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage. Blackstone.

A villein who rendered menial service for his cottage; a cottier. The cottar, the bordar, and the laborer were bound to aid in the work of the home farm. J. R. Green.

A woman born in the state of villeinage; a female serf. Blackstone.

England, at least from the reign of Henry II, one only, and that the inferior species [of villeins], existed . . . But by the customs of France and Germany, persons in this abject state seem to have been called serfs, and distinguished from villeins, who were only bound to fixed payments and duties in respect of their…

nding. Toll and team (O. Eng. Law), the privilege of having a market, and jurisdiction of villeins. Burrill. -- Toll bar, a bar or beam used on a canal for stopping boats at the tollhouse, or on a road for stopping passengers. -- Toll bridge, a bridge where toll is paid for passing over it. -- Toll corn, corn taken…

tenant of the lowest class, a bondman or servant. [In this sense written also villan, and villein.] If any of my ansectors was a tenant, and a servant, and held his lands as a villain to his lord, his posterity also must do so, though accidentally they become noble. Jer. Taylor.

on of doing the meanest services for the lord. [In this sense written also villenage, and villeinage.] I speak even now as if sin were condemned in a perpetual villanage, never to be manumitted. Milton. Some faint traces of villanage were detected by the curious so late as the days of the Stuarts. Macaulay.…

Of or pertaining to a villein.