Talk:vassal

a vassel is a kings worker right?

Etymology

It sounds like an originally Slavic word. The stem -vaz- would mean to tie, obligate, bind, whereas -al is a common suffix.

This might be consistent with the "Old Celtic" origins that most references have for this (now shown in entry). Perhaps there is a Slavic word "cognate with" (having a shared common ancestor with) the words thought to be part of the etymology. Or Slavic could have been influenced by a cultural practice begun in parts of the former Roman Empire. Apparently the ultimate root might have been something that meant "boy" or "youth".