Vil"lain (?), n. [OE. vilein, F. vilain, LL. villanus, from villa a village, L. villa a farm. See Villa.]
1. FeudalLaw 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.
⇒ 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.
Blackstone.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Vil"lain, a. [F. vilain.] Villainous. [R.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Vil"lain, v. t. To debase; to degrade. [Obs.]
Sir T. More.
© Webster 1913. | 
