Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Villein
A villein is, in the feudal system, a member of the class of serfs tied to the land, distinguished from those in actual slavery, but restricted by law from exercising the rights of a free man. The word, identical in origin to villain, derived from the Latin villanus, pertaining to the landed estate or villa. A variety of kinds of villeinage existed in the European middle ages, and it is impossible to arrive at a precise definition which satisfies them all.
See Manorialism.
Villain is a misspelling in this context.
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details