Vocabulary Entry

villeinage

|noun

noun

A term used in medieval England to describe a system of serfdom or the status of a villein, who was bound to a lord's land and owed him certain obligations.

Example Sentences

"In medieval society, the villeinage system dictated the rights and duties of peasants."

"The transformation of villeinage into a more free labor system marked a significant change in social structure."

"Many villeins sought to escape their obligations to improve their living conditions."