Meanings
nounsubvassal (plural subvassals)
plural subvassals
- historicalThe vassal of a vassal.First known use 15th c.
A Carolingian capitulary of 799 allowed the church to assign its property as benefices to lay subvassals to circumvent the canon law restriction on clergy serving as warriors.
2016, Peter H. Wilson, The Holy Roman Empire, Penguin, published 2017, page 329Synonyms: vavasour
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe vassal of a vassal.
Similar
Origin
From sub- + vassal. Compare earlier subvavasour.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French vavasseur
- vavasseurvassal of a vassal
Italian valvassore
- valvassorevassal of a vassal
Latin vavassor
- vavassorvassal of a vassal
Cite this entry
APA
subvassal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvassal
MLA
“subvassal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvassal. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subvassal,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvassal.
Source: subvassal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.