subvassal

English

Etymology

From sub- +‎ vassal. Compare earlier subvavasour.

Noun

subvassal (plural subvassals)

1. (historical) The vassal of a vassal. [from 15th c.]
   • 2016, Peter H. Wilson, The Holy Roman Empire, Penguin, published 2017, page 329:

     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.

Synonyms

• vavasour

Translations

vassal of a vassal

• French: vavasseur (fr) m
• Italian: valvassore (it) m
• Latin: vavassor m
• Middle English: vavasour