ˈvilə̇n, -iˌlān, viˈlān noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English vilein, vilain — more at villain
1. : a free common villager or village peasant of any of the feudal classes lower in rank than the thane
2. : a free peasant of a feudal class lower than a sokeman and higher in rank than the cotters and bordars and colliberts having property rights in both real and personal property and not adscript to the soil
3. : an unfree peasant that is a slave as regards his feudal lord but free in his legal relations with respect to all others, that has no rights against the lord except that of protection from being maimed or killed, and that is subject to be sold by the lord or removed from his lands at will