villein

• villain (archaic)

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈvɪlən/, /ˈvɪleɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɪlən
• Homophone: villain

villein (plural villeins)

1. (historical) A feudal tenant, a serf.
   • 1907, Antiquities of Sunderland and Its Vicinity - Volumes 5-7, page 73:

     If any burgess be appealed of a plea whereon wager of battle may issue by a villein or outdweller , let him defend himself by oath, that is to say by the 36 men, unless he is challenged in respect of a crime that the law requires him to defend by battle, in no case ought a burgess to fight against a villein if he have challenged him unless before the dispute he shall have quitted the burgage.

• neif (female)

• villain

villein

1. superlative degree of villi

villein

1. instructive plural of villi

• villien

villein oblique singular, m (oblique plural villeinz, nominative singular villeinz, nominative plural villein)

1. Alternative form of vilain