early 14c. (c. 1200 as a surname) "tenant who pledges fealty to a lord," from Old French vassal "subject, subordinate, servant" (12c.), from Medieval Latin vassallus "manservant, domestic, retainer," extended from vassus "servant," from Old Celtic *wasso- "young man, squire" (cognates: Welsh gwas "youth, servant," Breton goaz "servant, vassal, man," Irish foss "servant"). The adjective is recorded from 1580s.
雙語(yǔ)例句
1. Wales was a vassal kingdom at that time.
那時(shí)威爾士是個(gè)附庸國(guó).
來(lái)自《簡(jiǎn)明英漢詞典》
2. Opponents of the treaty argue that monetary union will turn France into a vassal of Germany.