Feudal describes the old social system in medieval Europe where powerful lords owned land and peasants worked it in exchange for protection. It can also describe any system that feels rigid, old-fashioned, and based on strict ranks.
It comes from Medieval Latin “feudalis,” relating to “feudum” or “fief,” which meant a piece of land held in return for service. The term grew to describe the whole network of lords, vassals, and obligations built around land.
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