Definition of VILLEIN

villein

Plural: villeins

Noun

  • A feudal tenant entirely subject to a lord but free in legal relations.
  • (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
  • A feudal tenant, a serf.

Examples

  • He played VILLEIN, a word as historically rooted as his opponent’s old-fashioned strategy.

Origin / Etymology

From Anglo-Norman vilein, variant of vilain; from Medieval Latin villanus (“field hand”), from Latin villa (“country home”). Doublet of villain.

Synonyms

helot, serf

Scrabble Score: 10

villein: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
villein: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
villein: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

villein: valid Words With Friends Word