Definition of "villeins" []

• Plural form of villein. (noun)

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• "If, as some contend, the condition of enslavement be indicative of descent from Canaan, the rule will render a large portion of the present English and Americans such descendants, for it is only a few years since a multitude of their British ancestors were absolute slaves under the name of "villeins" -- also the same rule will render most of the present Russians, Poles, Georgians,"
• "Another very important distinction between the free tenants and the villeins was the payment of _merchet_ on the marriage of daughters, which signified that the offspring of such marriages would be the lawful property of the lord."
• "Next to the villeins were the _bordarii_, who lived in _bords_ or cottages, _i. e._ boarded or wooden huts, and ranked as a lower grade of villeins."