subvassal en · NOUN
Etymology
From sub- + vassal. Compare earlier subvavasour.
Meanings
-
(historical) The vassal of a vassal.
A Carolingian capitulary of 799 allowed the church to assign its property as benefices to lay subvassals to circumvent the canon law restriction on clergy serving as warriors.
2016, Peter H. Wilson, The Holy Roman Empire, Penguin, published 2017, page 329:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| subvassals | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (4)
la vavassor (vassal of a vassal) · it valvassore (vassal of a vassal) · fr vavasseur (vassal of a vassal) · enm vavasour (vassal of a vassal)