noun a person entirely under the domination of another
The concept of villeinage played a significant role in the economic structure of medieval societies, particularly in terms of agricultural production.
In medieval Europe, a villein was a peasant who was legally bound to the land and subject to the will of the lord of the manor.
Villeins were part of the feudal system, providing labor and services to the lord in exchange for protection and the right to work the land.
The rights and obligations of villeins were defined by customary law and varied across different regions and time periods.
Villeins occupied a lower social status compared to free peasants and were often seen as serfs or unfree laborers.
In historical fiction novels, the term 'villein' may be used to describe a character who is a medieval peasant bound to work on a lord's estate.
In the field of psychology, the term 'villein' may be used metaphorically to describe a person who feels trapped or oppressed in a certain situation.
Historians may use the term 'villein' to refer to a specific social class or laborer in medieval Europe.
Lawyers may encounter the term 'villein' in legal history or property law contexts when studying feudal systems and land ownership.