Villain

An epithet used to cast contempt and contumely on the person to whom it is applied. To call a man a villain, in a letter written to a third person will entitle him to an action without proof of special damages. 1 Bos. & P. 331. VILLANIS REGIS SUBTRACTIS REDUCENDIS. A writ that lay for the bringing back of the king's bondmen that had been carried away by others out of his manors whereto they belonged. Reg. Orig. 87. VILLANUM SERVITIUM (Law Lat.)

In old English law. Villein service. Fleta, lib. 3, c. 13, § 1. VILLEIN (vilis, base or ville, estate). A person attached to a manor, who was substantially in the condition of a slave, who performed the base and menial work upon the manor for the lord, and was generally a subject of property, and belonging to him. 1 Washb. Real Prop. 26. The feudal villein of the lowest order, unprotected as to property, and subject to the most ignoble services. But his circumstances were very different from the slave of the Southern states, for no person was, in the eye of the law, a villein, except as to his master; in relation to all other persons he was a freeman. Litt. Ten. §§ 189, 190; Hallam, View Mid. Ages, vol. 1, 122, 124; Id. vol. 2, 199.

An epithet used to cast contempt and contumely on the person to whom it is applied. To call a man a villain in a letter written to a third person will entitle him to an action without proof of special damages. 1 B. & P. 331.