Vasall

German

Etymology

From Middle High German vassal, from Old French vassal.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vaˈzal/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -al

Noun

Vasall m (weak or mixed, genitive Vasallen or (nonstandard but relatively common) Vasalls, plural Vasallen, feminine Vasallin)

1. (historical) vassal, leud, feudal tenant (male or of unspecified gender)

   Synonyms: Lehnsmann, Gefolgsmann

2. (figurative) follower, faithful and compliant ally, vassal

   Synonyms: Gefolgsmann, Getreuer, Anhänger

Usage notes

• Usually weak in the standard language, but mixed declension is also found.

Declension

Declension of Vasall [masculine, weak // mixed]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Vasall	die	Vasallen
genitive	eines	des	Vasallen, Vasalls1	der	Vasallen
dative	einem	dem	Vasallen, Vasall1	den	Vasallen
accusative	einen	den	Vasallen, Vasall1	die	Vasallen

¹Nonstandard but relatively common.

Derived terms

• Aftervasall
• Doppelvasallität
• Kronvasall
• Reichsvasall
• Untervasall
• Vasallenburg
• Vasallendienst
• Vasalleneid
• Vasallenkönig
• Vasallenpflicht
• Vasallenstaat
• Vasallenstamm
• Vasallentum
• Vasallenvertrag
• vasallisch
• Vasallität
• Vasallitätseid

 

Descendants

• → Czech: vazal
• → Deccani: وسلن (/⁠vasalla⁠/)

See also

• Lehen
• Gefolge

Further reading

• “Vasall” in Duden online
• “Vasall” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache