Definition of "vassal" []

• A person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for homage and allegiance. (noun)
• A bondman; a slave. (noun)
• A subordinate or dependent. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "But five years on, George Bush and Dick Cheney are putting the screws on their Green Zone government to sign a secret deal for indefinite military occupation, which would effectively reduce Iraq to a long-term vassal state. ""
• "But it is worth noticing that none of these leaders commanded a very large force, and none is referred to as the vassal or liegeman of another."
• "There is a wonderful program called vassal, found here: www.vassalengine.org"