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