Main Entry: vil·lein

Pronunciation: \ˈvi-lən, ˈvi-ˌlān, vi-ˈlān\

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