villein en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈvɪlən/
- /ˈvɪleɪn/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman vilein, variant of vilain; from Medieval Latin villanus (“field hand”), from Latin villa (“country home”). Doublet of villain.
Meanings
-
(historical) A feudal tenant, a serf.
"Then you're not - " "Darling," I said, "do you really see me in the position of a seigneur, driving my serfs and villeins before me with a whip - even if the triffids haven't overrun me first?"
1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, published 1954, page 269:If any burgess be appealed of a plea whereon wager of battle may issue by a villein or outdweller , let him defend himself by oath, that is to say by the 36 men, unless he is challenged in respect of a crime that the law requires him to defend by battle, in no case ought a burgess to fight against a villein if he have challenged him unless before the dispute he shall have quitted the burgage.
1907, Antiquities of Sunderland and Its Vicinity - Volumes 5-7, page 73:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| villeins | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| villain | alternative, archaic | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Hyponyms
Relateds
Translations (15)
ru холо́п (feudal tenant) · sv livegen (feudal tenant) · it servo della gleba (feudal tenant) · ga seirfeach (feudal tenant) · bg вилан (feudal tenant) · ru вилла́н (feudal tenant) · pl chłop pańszczyźniany (feudal tenant) · de Leibeigener (feudal tenant) · cy aillt (feudal tenant) · pl chłopka pańszczyźniana (feudal tenant) · hu jobbágy (feudal tenant) · cs nevolník (feudal tenant) · cy taeog (feudal tenant) · ga viléineach (feudal tenant) · gl vilán (feudal tenant)