Also 5 vasselry, 6 vassalrie, -rey. [f. VASSAL sb. + -RY. Cf. med.L. vasseleria (1238) fief, OF. vassellerie warlike exploit.]

1

  1.  = VASSALAGE 5.

2

a. 1470.  Harding, Chron., xcix. Thei reigned vpon the vasselry That were out castes of all Britany.

3

1806.  W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., IV. 67. Something could be done … to facilitate the acquisition of a peculium … by the negro vassalry.

4

1831.  Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), II. 209. The Earls of Ross and Huntly, whose dominions and vassalry embraced almost the whole of the Highlands.

5

1882.  E. Arnold, Pearls of Faith, xxiii. (1883), 84. Queens were his slaves, and Kings his vassalry.

6

  2.  = VASSALAGE 3.

7

1594.  O. B., Quest. Profit. Concern., 13 b. The olde bondage and vassalrie men of your condition were wont to be in.

8

c. 1600.  in E. E. Wills (1882), 217. This beast … disdaineth vassalrey and subjection.

9