Where does “Vasall” come from?
Vasall (German) comes from French vassal, from Middle French 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.
Ancestry of “Vasall”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | vassal | vassal; a vassal |
| 2 | Middle French | vassal | — |
| 3 | Old French | vassal | vassal |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | vassallus | manservant, domestic, retainer |
| 5 | Latin | vassus | vassal of vassals; servant |
| 6 | Gaulish | wassos | young man, squire |
| 7 | Proto-Celtic | wāstos | empty |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁weh₂- | to leave, abandon, give out |