Leud
/luːd/noun
An obsolete term for a vassal, subject, or member of a people.
Did you know?In early medieval Latin, related forms such as leudes referred to a ruler’s followers or retainers, revealing how political identity was framed through personal allegiance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*liudiz
“People; a group or nation”
Old English
Old English
lēod
“People, nation, or a person belonging to a people”
Early Medieval Latin
Latin
leudes
“People, subjects, or royal retainers”
Old French
Old French
leud
“A vassal or subject”
14th Century
English
leud
“A vassal or subject; an obsolete English borrowing”
Modern English
English
leud
“An archaic or historical term for a vassal or member of a people”