villein Hear it!

villein Definition

vil·lein (vil′ən)

noun

any of a class of feudal serfs who by the 13th cent. had become freemen in their legal relations to all except their lord, to whom they remained subject as slaves

Etymology: ME: see villain

villein Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • virgate: There [ is ] 1 villein on 1 virgate, and 6 bordars on 5 acres.

Converse of object

  • have: Derman's holding had one villein, ( fn.

Modifies a noun

  • tenant: Most of the land was rented by the villein tenants of the manor, some with considerable holdings.

Browse dictionary entries near villein

  1. ‹ -ville
  2. ‹ villatic
  3. ‹ Villard
  4. ‹ villanelle
  5. ‹ villanella
  6. ‹ villainy
  7. ‹ villainous
  8. ‹ villainess
  9. ‹ villain
  10. ‹ Villahermosa
  1. villeinage ›
  2. Villeurbanne ›
  3. villi ›
  4. Villiers ›
  5. villiform ›
  6. Villiger, Kaspar ›
  7. Villon ›
  8. villosity ›
  9. villous ›
  10. villus ›