villein
[
vil
-
uh
n, -eyn, vi-
leyn
]
/ˈvɪl ən, -eɪn, vɪˈleɪn/
noun
1.
a member of a class of partially free persons under the feudal system, who were serfs with respect to their lord but had the rights and privileges of freemen with respect to others.
Also,
villain
.
Origin
1275-1325;
Middle English;
see
villain
Can be confused
villain
,
villein
.
British Dictionary definitions for
villein
villein
/
ˈvɪlən
/
noun
1.
(in medieval Europe) a peasant personally bound to his lord, to whom he paid dues and services, sometimes commuted to rents, in return for his land
Word Origin
C14: from Old French
vilein
serf; see
villain
Word Origin and History for
villein
n.
early 14c., spelling variant of
villain
, referring to a feudal class of half-free peasants.