n.
Pronunciation: ' vi-l ə n, ' vi- ˌ l ā n, vi- ' l ā n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English vilain, vilein ― more at VILLAIN
Date: 14th century
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 higher in rank than a cotter
3 : an unfree peasant standing as the slave of a feudal lord but free in legal relations with respect to all others