English
liegeman
Liegeman comes from Middle English lege man ‘a liegeman’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lege man‘a liegeman’
- Englishearliest quotation 2002liegeman
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lege man‘a liegeman’
- Englishearliest quotation 2002liegeman
Earliest quotation: 2002, Bethesda Softworks, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind: “Three belied you, three betrayed you! One you betrayed…”
Formed from liege + -man
Middle High German ledic
Old French liege ‘liege, free’
Anglo-Norman lige
Middle English liege
English liege
Every English word from Middle English lege man
Today it means
noun A male vassal (subject of a sovereign or lord).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English lege man / liegeman