Valvasor

Valvassor, vavasor, vavassor, l. Lat.

In feudal and old English law. A principal vassal who held of those who held of the king; a vassal of the second degree or rank, sometimes one who held immediately of the king.

fr., vavasor, I. 1. A vassal; the chief vassal of a tenant in chief. 2. An old dignity below the peerage. Vana est ilia potentia quae nunquam venit in actum, I. That power is useless which never comes into action. Vani timores sunt aestimandi qui non cadunt in constantem virum: those fears are to be deemed idle which do not affect a man of nerve.

or VAVASOR. The first name of dignity next beneath a peer was anciently that of valvasors, or vavasors, who are mentioned by our ancient lawyers as viri magnas dignitatis. Yet they are now quite out of use; and our legal antiquarians are not agreed upon even their original or ancient office. They appear to have been in dignity next to the barons and king, or, if they held of the king, it was as of an honor or manor, and not in chief. Tomlins.