vassal
pronunciation
How to pronounce vassal in British English:
UK [ˈvæsl]
How to pronounce vassal in American English:
US [ˈvæsəl]
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- Noun:
- a person holding a fief
Word Origin
- vassal
- vassal: see varlet
- vassal (n.)
- early 14c. (c. 1200 as a surname) "tenant who pledges fealty to a lord," from Old French vassal "subject, subordinate, servant" (12c.), from Medieval Latin vassallus "manservant, domestic, retainer," extended from vassus "servant," from Old Celtic *wasso- "young man, squire" (cognates: Welsh gwas "youth, servant," Breton goaz "servant, vassal, man," Irish foss "servant"). The adjective is recorded from 1580s.
Example
- 1. Italy , like greece today , would become an economic vassal of germany .
- 2. Once in charge the chinese sat back and accepted tribute from their suzerain and vassal states , such as tibet .
- 3. It has tried to open doors to burma , also known as myanmar , which u.s. officials believe is in danger of becoming a chinese vassal state .
- 4. In addition to controlling almost 30 provinces in western asia , northern africa and europe , the ottoman empire also had numerous vassal states that it administered for nearly six centuries .
- 5. Another principle is the right of any country , even if it is a former soviet vassal in what russia still counts as its own sphere of influence , to ask to join nato .