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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vas(s)al(l, Vassal(l)e, n. Also: -el(l, -aill, -oul(l, was(s)al(l, wassale, -ell, vashal, waschell, varsal(l, wessel(l, wersal(l. [ME and e.m.E. vassale (14th c.), vassal(l (both Caxton), wassale (a1533), vassaile (1589), vassell (1596), OF vas(s)al.]

1. One who owes allegiance to another; specif., in the feudal system, one who holds lands or entitlements from a superior (Superio(u)r n.) and owes allegiance, etc. in return. Also wassall rebell, a vassal denounced as a rebel. See quot. Stair below. Ward vassal, see Ward n.¹ 3 g for examples. b. In more general use, in Alex.: Warrior, man. Freq. as a term of address. 1360 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 87.
[Dauid Brown filius et heres quondam domini Johannis Brown militis vassalus ecclesie nostre de terra de Corchrony 1380 Reg. Episc. Morav. 183.
Et sedente ut domino inter vassallos suos et subditos ad jura reddenda 1419–20 Reg. Dunferm. 282.]
Eiusdem Willelmus … abbas monasterij de Dunfermelyn … recepit in vasallum et tenentem suum … quemdam Willelmum de Maistertonsing. ?1438 Alex. ii 4797.
Ane squyre went … To feche him … The vassalle [F. vassaus] come delyuerly. Quhare God gart all gude multuply 1456 Hay I 122/32.
The vassall sueris that … he sall nocht mak it to be done with mare difficultee, or to mak it impossible 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 256.
Thow bene bot officiare And wassall to that kyng 1549 Beaton Eccles. Hist. Caithness 319.
His wassall and tennent of the baronie of May 1551 Acts II 485/1.
For euerie fault to be committit … Ane landit man frehalder wassall fewar burges and small beneficit men ij d. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Homagivm.
[Homage] sulde be maid be the vassall being minor, or maior, to his ouer-lorde 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Nonentres.
None-entres, is quhen ane vassall, vest and saised in the fee and propertie of the landes, deceasis, leavand behinde him ane aire [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Vassalvs.
The vassall is inferiour to his maister, because he suld serue and reverence him. And ȝit he is in ane maner companion to him, because ilk ane of them is mutuallie oblished till vthers 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 61.
Ane over-lord being minor sall be compelled to answere to his vassall being major, seikand entres to his lands 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 42b.
Be the law … the vassall may doe nathing to the disherissing of his over-lord, to the hurt of his bodie, or to his shame and dishonor (and gif he does anie thing in the contrare, he violats and breaks his faith of homage) 1675 Inverness Rec. II 260.
The samen [charter of confirmation] wes delayed quhill he pey 20 lb. for reseaueing of him as ther wassall 1681 Stair Inst. ii iv § 61.
The last common casualty of superiors is the liferent escheat of the vassal, when the vassal is denounced rebel 1681 Stair Inst. ii iii § 80.
We have neither rule nor example for paying it [sc. heriot] by any but by labourers of the ground, so that … it is not reserved to the superior, but belongs to the vassal(b) 1488–9 Acta Conc. I 108/1.
Thomas clamit the said landis to pertene to Alane Kynnard … and the said maister William to pertene to him as tennent and wassale to the said Alane(c) a1560 Old Ross-shire I 14.
In this case it is lyk that the vassell will seik the superior sele 1634 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 481.
Lord Kirkcudbright and Andro Carsane his wassell 1681 Inverness Rec. II 290.
Ane supplication … anent ane peice ground … quherby he desires to be receivit thair vassel therin & pey ane few dutie therfore 1689 Acts XII 74/1.
The forfaultors of vassells and cre[dito]rs … who shall be innocent of thair superiors or debitors crymes(d) 1617 Acts IV 583/2.
Ony vassaill subvassaill fewair takisman of teyndis [etc.] … iustlie bundin to mak releiff to the prelate lord of erectioun patroun or other beneficeit man of ony pairt of the said taxatioun(e) 1577 Inverness Rec. I 256.
That your wysdomes, as our superioris and wersallis to the Kingis grace myln [etc.] … meyne onpl. 1456 Hay I 123/9.
Gif the vassallis be nocht with thair lord, thai ar agaynis him and scailis his gudis 1456 Hay I 126/24.
The vassallis ar behaldyn to thair baroun in speciale jurisdiccioun modifyit, and to the king in generale 1474 Acts II 107/1.
Anent ourlordis that in defraude & skaith of thair vassalis & tenentis deferris till enter to thair landis and superioriteis 1495 Acta Conc. I 421/2.
It haid bene declarit quhether the ladyis of terce of subvassalis suld haf ther terce of landis beand in our souerane lordis handis be resson of ward be deces of the immediat wassalis to our souerane lord or nocht 1503 Acts II 244/2.
Wassallis 1558–9 Reg. Privy S. V i 116/1.
Without prejudice to the fre wassallis, haldand ony tennandriis of the saidis landis 1619 Highland P. III 307.
We haif bene eirnistlie delt with on the behalff of the fewars and vasallis of Argyle for granting vnto thame confirmationis of thair landis quhilkis thay hald of the erll of Argyle 1641–2 Misc. Spald. C. V 158.
Deburst … to messingers in Ross, for executing the townes [sc. Aberdeen's] summonds aganes the wassals of the bishoprik of Ross 1678 Highland P. I 311.
The … earl of Argyll to call to his assistance such parties of the mielitia within the shires of Argyll, Bute and Dumbartoune, as he shall think fit; as also his haill vassals, mentenants and servants, and [etc.] 1680 Inverness Rec. II 286.
The great incroachment that is made by ther vassalles and nighboures yearlie through ther owne default in ommitting to perambulat ther merches 1690 Acts IX 200/1.
Act in favours of the small vassalls of kirklands … takeing into their consideratione that many of the vassalls of bishops … have such small portions of lands that [etc.](b) 1561 Stirlings of Keir 416.
The said James Kincaidis forbeares and predacessowres hes beyn tennentes and fre wassellis … for the tym 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 407.
[The complainers plead that they are not justly indebted for any part of the said tax] in respect that thay nor nane of thame ar nather frehalders, vassellis, subvassellis, bot ar fewaris only 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 28.
Gif it sall happen that ouer lords poynd and distrenȝie their vasselles contrare the constitution forsaid 1637 Monimail Reg. Ct. 20 April.
The said nobill lord and his lordshipis baillie deput [with the consent of the] haill fewaris tennentis & wassellis ratefeis and approves the haill former actis 1679 Sc. N. & Q. XII 153.
It is to be enquired whether or not these vassels who hold of my Lord Mar in the Garrioch who has a power of heritable bailliary disponed to them in their fue charters will be holden to answer before my lords court of regallity(c) 15.. Clar. iv 167.
The king … bad … his vassoullis ouer all the regioun, And … his knichtis grittest of renowne … to compeir(d) 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. 178b.
Ony lands of the said lord of Glasgu or his wessellis liand within the bonds of Nethir Wode owir & nethir(e) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 167.
Sho … being borne to impyre … finding … the order of nature invertit, that now shoe most be rewled be hir owin vashalis 1575 Reg. Privy S. VII 437/2.
All and sindrie frie tennentis, waschellis, fewaris, rentallaris and utheris heretable possessouris(f) 1591 Maxwell Mem. II 166.
It is requesit we be honestlie accumpaneit with our kyn, freyndis, varsallis, serweandis and dependariscomb. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 157.
The superior hes right to the lyfrent of the lands quherin his wassall rebell may be infeftb. ?1438 Alex. i 2548.
Thocht he had na armour hale, Ȝit wald he as gude vassale His hie worship stoutly assay ?1438 Alex. ii 3416.
He lukit about … And sone persauit he … That Caulus wald richt blythly ga. ‘Wassell [F. varlet],’ he said [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 4088.
Floridas … to Porrus fast can he cry ‘Vassale [F. vassal] thow sall leif the ky … Sa lychtly passis thow nocht away Abyde, schir vassale of the bare' ?1438 Alex. ii 4417.
Schir vassale with the goldin sheild Turne thé to me ?1438 Alex. ii 7732.
Emynedus spak and wald nocht spare ‘Lordingis and vassellis, to ȝow I say [etc.]'

2. transf. Applied to a comparable relationship, specif. with God, a servant of God. 1490 Irland Mir. I 123/10.
I, God, creature and Fadere of hevin … to my seruandis sendis salutacioune. I wil ȝe knaw, anens the gret discensioune and discord that lang tyme has indurit betuix me and my seruiture and wassale, humane linage, that [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 370.
Mr. Andro bure him down and outtered the Commission as from the mightie God calling the King bot ‘God’s sillie vassall'

3. One who is subject to (a feeling). 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 780.
Ȝe happy maids … Frie from love's plague and perillows infection, Nor wonne by men, nor vassaills to affection