DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 vil·lein /ˈvɪlən, ˈvɪˌlen, vɪˈlen/
 農奴

 Vil·lain n.
 1. Feudal Law One who holds lands by a base, or servile, tenure, or in villenage; a feudal tenant of the lowest class, a bondman or servant.  [In this sense written also villan, and villein.]
    If any of my ansectors was a tenant, and a servant, and held his lands as a villain to his lord, his posterity also must do so, though accidentally they become noble.   --Jer. Taylor.
 Note: ☞ Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant, that is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti glebae); and villains in gross, that is, annexed to the person of their lord, and transferable from one to another.
 2. A baseborn or clownish person; a boor.  [R.]
    Pour the blood of the villain in one basin, and the blood of the gentleman in another, what difference shall there be proved?   --Becon.
 3. A vile, wicked person; a man extremely depraved, and capable or guilty of great crimes; a deliberate scoundrel; a knave; a rascal; a scamp.
    Like a villain with a smiling cheek.   --Shak.
    Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix.   --Pope.

 Vil·lein n. Feudal Law See Villain, 1.
 ◄ ►

 villein
      n : (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by
          the feudal lord [syn: serf, helot]