paravail

adjective

par·​a·​vail

¦parə¦vā(ə)l

feudal law

: being below or at the bottom

—used especially of a tenant who holds of a tenant, especially the lowest tenant of the fee in immediate possession

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French paravale, from Old French par aval below, from par by + aval down, from a to + val valley

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