villein Hear it!

villein Definition

vil·lein (vilən)

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