Vassal

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Stimson (1881), Abbott (1879)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

In feudal law. 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. The vassal himself might be lord of some other vassaL In after times, this word wag used to signify a species of slave who owed servitude, and was in a state of dependency on a su-

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A tenant or landholder under the feudal system. See 2 Bl. Comm. 53.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

In Feudal Law. The name given to the holder of a fief bound to perform feu Ual service: this word was then always correlative to that of lord, entitled to such service. The vassal himself might be lord of some other vassal. In after-times, 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 Bla. Com. 53. Vassal States are states which are supposed to possess only those rights and privileges which have been expressly granted to them, but actually they seem to be well-nigh Independent Hershey, Int L. 106. Egypt was such; also Crete. VAVASOUR (diminutive from vasalus or, to a baron. Britton 109; Bracton, lib. 1, c. 8. One who held of a baron. Encyc. Brit.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In feudal law. A feudal tenant or grantee; a feudatory; the holder of a fief on a feudal tenure, and by the obligation of performing feudal services. The correlative term was "lord."

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

Vasallns, 1. 1.

In feudal law. A grantee of a fief, feud or fee; a feudatory. tenant who holds of

Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

The tenant of ^fief; a feudatory.

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

In ancient English customs, signified a tenant or feudatary; or person who vowed fidelity and homage to a lord, on account of some land, &c., held of him in fee; also, a slave or servant, and especially a domestic of a prince. (Du Cange.) Vassalus (in Scotland) is said to be quasi inferiai' socius, as the vassal is inferior to his master, and must serve him; and yet he is in a manner his companion, because each of them is obliged to the other. (Skene.) The vassal is the person who receives a feudal right; the giver is the superior. (2 Bl. Com. 53.) Jacob. Vassal originally signified a feudal tenant or grantee of land. It seems doubtf id what the exact relationship was that subsisted between lord and vassal; some writers are of opinion that they stood to each other in the relation of landlord and tenant, and to a certain extent were the companions of each other; while others affirm that the vassal was little better than the slave or bondman of his lord. The state Or condition of a vassal is termed vassalage. (2 Chitt. Bl. Com. 52, note 6.) Broum.