Forms: 4 vassale, 6 wassale; 5–7 vassall (6 phasalle, Sc. wassall), 5– vassal (8 vasal); 5 vayssal, vaysall; 5 vasseyll-, 6–7 vassaile, 7 vassail(l; 6–7 vassell, Sc. wassell-. [a. OF. vassal, vasal (F. vassal, = It., Pg. vassallo, Sp. vasallo):—med.L. vassall-us man-servant, domestic, retainer, a word of Celtic origin: the simpler form vassus (used in the same senses) corresponds to Old Gaulish -vassus, vasso- (in personal names), OBreton uuas (MBret. goas, Bret. goaz), W. gwas, Ir. foss servant, serf. Cf. VAVASOUR.]
1. In the feudal system, one holding lands from a superior on conditions of homage and allegiance; a feudatory; a tenant in fee. Now Hist.
13[?]. Coer de L., 3365. They are doughty vassales, Kynges sones and amyrales.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 69. The emperour Charlemayne called to hym his goode vasseylles.
1523. [Coverdale], Old God & New (1534). I, John … ye xij. pope of yt name … dyd prescribe an othe vnto Otho, in whiche Otho shold acknowlege him self to be ye popes phasalle (as we do now cal it).
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 32. It becummeth ane prince to leiwe frielie … nocht subiectit to ane vassellis correctioun or chastisment.
1601. [Bp. W. Barlow], Serm. Paules Crosse, 62. The Queene mured vp with her owne vassalles.
1665. in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, Ser. III. (1912), 234. The foreman and Chiefe thereof [sc. the jury] being all Tennants and vassalls to the Major and Aldermen.
1683. Temple, Mem., Wks. 1720, I. 453. The Emperor made an invincible Difficulty, declaring he would never treat with a Vassal of his own.
a. 1781. R. Watson, Philip III., IV. (1783), 293. It was enacted, that all their effects should belong to the lords whose vassals they were.
1817. Byron, Manfred, II. i. 13. To bask by the huge hearths of those old halls, Carousing with the vassals.
1860. Adler, Prov. Poet, 196. Princes having under them as their vassals other chiefs as renowned and valiant as themselves.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xvii. 29. All was trusted to the loyalty of William’s new-made vassals.
b. Used in addressing persons of this class.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vii. 172. Tell me, vassall, knowest thou noo tidynges of Reynawde, the sone of Aymon? Ibid., Blanchardyn, xxviii. 104. Vassall! vassal! to whom I haue taken in hande that thynge most dere to me in this world.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, ix. 23. Wassale, who art thou that hath slayn my brother?
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. i. 125. Presumptuous vassals, are you not asham’d … To trouble and disturbe the King, and Vs?
1822. Byron, Werner, II. ii. 329. March, vassals! I’m your leader, and will bring The rear up.
c. In Scottish legal use.
1474. Sc. Acts Parlt. (1814), II. 107/1. Anent our lordis þat in defraude & skaith of þair vassalis & tenentis deferris till enter to þair landis and superioriteis.
1581. Reg. Privy Council Scot., 407. In respect that thay nor nane of thame ar nather frehalders, vassellis, subvassellis, bot ar fewaris only.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. King Robt. I., 28. Gif it sall happen that ouer Lords poynd and distrenzie their vasselles contrare the constitution forsaid.
1689. in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1875), XII. 74. The forfaultors of vassells and cre[dito]rs, who shall be innocent of þair superiors or debitors crymes.
1739. Morison’s Dict. Decis. (1806), XXXIII. 14507. The vassal is not bound to accept of a new charter, disconform to his former rights.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., II. iii. § 13. A vassal … may make over his property to a subvassal by a subaltern right. Ibid. The vassal who thus subfeus [etc.].
1815. R. Bell, Convey. Land, 238. The consent of both superior and vassal must be adhibited by those forms which practice has prescribed.
1853. H. Barclay, Digest Law Scot., 964. Vassal is he who has the right of fee or property—dominium utile—distinguished from the right of superiority, or dominium directum.
1896. W. K. Morton, Man. Law Scot., II. iii. 84. The law held the feu to transmit to heir of vassal, but superior could reject a stranger.
2. transf. One who holds, in relation to another, a position similar or comparable to that of a feudal vassal.
1563. Golding, Cæsar, 23 b. To bynd theyr Citye by othe, that they shoulde neyther requyre their hostages agayn,… nor yet refuse to be their subiectes & vassales for euer.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India (1596), 47. The Lorde of that town and other foure Lords … came vnto Cortez with a good trayne of their vassals and seruitours.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. VII. 51. The king of Phœnicia, whose vassal I declare myself to be.
1807. J. Robinson, Archæol. Græca, II. iii. 148. From the time of their [the Helots] first reduction these vassals, impatient of their servitude, often endeavoured to break their yoke.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece (1839), II. 173. The death of Cyrus is speedily avenged by one of his vassals, Amorges king of the Sacians.
1909. J. Stuart, Burma thro’ Cent., iv. 42. In 1430 A.D., however, the King of Bengal determined to restore the exiled King, and did so, the restored King becoming a vassal of Bengal.
b. esp. A humble servant or subordinate; one devoted to the service of another.
c. 1500. Melusine, xxiv. 163. Damoyselle,… as to my part, your vassall & seruaunt shal I euer be.
1591. Spenser, Daphnaida, 181. For rare it seemes … That man … Should to a beast his noble hart embase, And be the vassall of his vassalesse.
1596. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 370. Mr. Andro [Melvill] … calling the King bot ‘God’s sillie vassall.’
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lviii. Being your vassail bound to staie your leisure.
1651. in Nicholas Papers (Camden), 254. Lord Digby is a vassal of the Louvre.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 90. The Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge Inexorably … Calls us to Penance.
1757. Keene in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 220. Dn Carlos does not care to make the Figure of a Sort of Vassal.
1782. J. Brown, View Nat. & Rev. Relig., VI. i. 519. These donations ought to be made conscientiously under a sense of our debt to God as his vassals and tenants.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xxxix. Alas, for the captive princess, whose nod was to command a vassal so costly as your Grace!
1857. J. Hamilton, Less. fr. Gt. Biogr., 140. The man who by sin makes himself Satan’s vassal may soon be his victim.
1858. Lytton, What will He do? VII. iv. Flora Vyvyan had still guarded … a seat beside herself for Darrell, by lending it for the present to one of her obedient vassals.
transf. 1593. Shaks., Lucr., 666. Thy thoughts, low vassals to thy state.
1692. Prior, Ode Imit. Horace, x. Where-e’er old Rhine his fruitful Water turns, or fills his Vassals Tributary Urns.
c. One who is completely subject to some influence. Const. of or to.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 780. Ȝe happy maids,… Frie from love’s plague and perillows infection, Nor wonne by men, nor vassaills to affection.
1631. R. Bolton, Comf. Affl. Consc. (1635), 34. These vassals of selfe-love and slaves of lust.
1676. Hale, Contempl., II. 86. Either the Soul becomes servant and vassal to Sin, or at best it is led away Captive by it.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 253. In this Bull he calls her Majesty ‘an usurper and a Vassal of iniquity.’
1855. Tennyson, Maud, II. I. ii. The feeble vassals of wine and anger and lust. Ibid. (1859), Merlin & V., 341. Fame with men … Should … work as vassal to the larger love.
3. A base or abject person; a slave.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 37. Vassaile auant or with my wings you die, Ist fit an Eagle seate him with a Flie?
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Heavtontim., Prol. That I may not euer continually … play the part of a vagabond vassaile.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. i. 163. Kent. Now by Apollo, King, Thou swear’st thy Gods in vaine. Lear. O vassal! Miscreant.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 53. We now use the word vasal opprobriously, as synonymous to slave or bondman.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xxvii. Thou that man!—vassal, thou liest!
4. attrib. or as adj. a. Having the status or character of a vassal; subject, subordinate; † servile. Chiefly fig.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 608. No outrageous thing From vassal actors can be wiped away.
1596. Edward III., II. i. Vassell feare lies trembling at his feete.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cxli. Thy proud hearts slaue and vassall wretch to be.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, iv. (1871), 41. Other mettals all Are but his vassaile starres.
1680. Otway, Orphan, I. iv. Man … Forlorn, and silent as his Vassal-Beasts.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XV. 117. Supreme he sits: and sees … Your vassal godheads grudgingly obey.
1735. Somerville, Chase, II. 352. When Ammon’s Son With mighty Porus in dread Battle join’d, The Vassal World the Prize.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., Introd. 4. Albion bids the avenging thunder roll Along her vassal deep.
1817. Moore, Lalla Rookh, Wks. (1910), 422/1. As if the loveliest plants and trees Had vassal breezes of their own.
a. 1854. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., iii. (1855), 92. Britain was a kind of vassal nation of the Roman Empire.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. App. 686. A title most commonly given to vassal princes.
b. In predicative use. Also const. to or unto.
1592. Nobody & Someb. (1878), 284. Ile be no longer vassaile To such a tirannous rule.
1602. J. Rhodes, Answ. Romish Rime, E. And now the other Bishops three … Were first made vassal vnto Rome.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 133. That people victor once, now vile and base, Deservedly made vassal.
1848. W. H. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Years, I. 325. It would have been to make Belgium vassal to the five powers.
1864. Lowell, Fireside Trav., 215. The eye that saw the whole earth vassal.
c. Of or pertaining to, characteristic of, a vassal.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 224. Who sees the heauenly Rosaline, That … Bowes not his vassall head.
1607. Middleton, Michaelmas Term, I. i. 57. With what a vassal-appetite they gnaw On our reversions.
1898. Atlantic Monthly, LXXXII. 562/1. The oath of vassal loyalty constraining him to stand at his post.
