A freeman holding land of a *baron, thus ranking below him. In a list in *LHP of the kinds of people who should attend a *county court - the shire moot, held twice a year - the vavasour is included alongside such men as the *reeve (Praepositus) and *steward (*praefectus), implying a distinct place for him in the medieval order - a middle ranker. [?< Lat. vassus vassorum = vassal of vassals]
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.