Extracted From:
  A LAW DICTIONARY ..., SIXTH EDITION, 1856
  by John Bouvier, CHILDS & PETERSON, PHILADELPHIA

VASSAL, feudal law. This was the name given to the holder of a fief, bound to
perform feudal service; this word was then always correlative to that of lord,
entitled to such service. 
   The vassal himself might be lord of some other vassal. 
   In aftertimes, this word was used to signify a species of slave who owed
servitude, and was in a state of dependency on a superior lord....

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