Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vassalry” come from?

vassalry (English) comes from English vassal, from Middle English vassal, from Old French vassal, from Medieval Latin vassallus, from Latin vassus, from Gaulish wassos, from Proto-Celtic wāstos, from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- — to leave, abandon, give out.

vassalry (English): The body of vassals

Definitions

  1. The body of vassals

Ancestry of “vassalry”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvassalThe grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who...
2Middle Englishvassal—
3Old Frenchvassalvassal
4Medieval Latinvassallusmanservant, domestic, retainer
5Latinvassusvassal of vassals; servant
6Gaulishwassosyoung man, squire
7Proto-Celticwāstosempty
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weh₂-to leave, abandon, give out
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- →