Where does “vassal” come from?

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

vassal (Old Occitan): vassal

Definitions

  1. vassal

Ancestry of “vassal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latinvassallusmanservant, domestic, retainer
2Latinvassusvassal of vassals; servant
3Gaulishwassosyoung man, squire
4Proto-Celticwāstosempty
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weh₂-to leave, abandon, give out

Words derived from “vassal”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- →Every word from Proto-Celtic wāstos →Every word from Gaulish wassos →