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Glite Dictionary
liegewoman

liegewoman

9.9
A woman who holds land from a lord and owes him service and loyalty
  • noun
  • /ˈliːɡˌwʊmən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : señora feudal
  • A liegewoman often managed the estate in her lord's absence.

Examples

  • The king granted her land, making her his trusted liegewoman.

  • Few records of liegewomen survive, but some held significant power in medieval Europe.

  • As a liegewoman, she was required to attend the court of her lord.

  • The liegewomen of the castle were essential to its management.

  • As a liegewoman, she was expected to fulfill her duties to the feudal lord.

  • The liegewoman took pride in serving her lord while managing the estate.

  • In the feudal system, a liegewoman was granted land and was loyal to her lord.

Synonyms

vassal
vsliegewoman
7 9.9

A person in the Middle Ages who holds land from a lord and must fight for him

is the same role but specifically a woman holding the land
liege subject
vsliegewoman
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who owes loyalty and service to a lord in medieval times

is the same idea but referring specifically to a woman in that role

Surface Forms

liegewoman singular
liegewomen plural

Morphology

liegewoman = liege + woman (transparent) = liege + woman

A literal compound of 'liege' + 'woman' meaning a woman holding fealty/land; the relation is directly derivable if the components are known, though the term is historical/archaic.

Etymology

Liegewoman comes from liege ('a lord you must be loyal to') and woman, so it named a woman who held land from a lord and had to serve him.