vassal

The story

1. Proto-Celtic · derived from*wastos“servant”
2. Gaulish · derived from*wassos“young man, squire”
3. Latin · derived fromvassus“servant”
4. Medieval Latin · derived fromvassallus“manservant, domestic, retainer”
5. Old French · derived fromvassal
6. Middle English · inherited fromvassal
7. English todayvassal

From Middle English vassal, from Old French vassal, from Medieval Latin vassallus (“manservant, domestic, retainer”), from Latin vassus (“servant”), from Gaulish *wassos (“young man, squire”), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (“servant”) (compare Old Irish foss and Welsh gwas).

Words from the same roots