villein

noun

vil·​lein ˈvi-lən 

ˈvi-ˌlān,

vi-ˈlān 

plural villeins

1

: a free common villager or village peasant of any of the feudal classes lower in rank than the thane

2

: a free peasant of a feudal class higher in rank than a cotter

3

: an unfree peasant enslaved to a feudal lord but free in legal relations with respect to all others

Examples of villein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thus, villeins were blamed for the evils disrupting an otherwise peaceful world. —Marisha Pessl, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vilain, vilein — more at villain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

villein

noun

vil·​lein ˈvil-ən  ˈvil-ˌān 

vil-ˈān

1

: a free peasant

2

: an unfree peasant enslaved to a feudal lord