(in feudal society) a tenant who held some or all of his lands directly from the king
tenant in chief in American English
noun
a feudal vassal who holds land directly from the king
Also: tenant-in-chief. Also called: tenant in capite (ˈkæpɪti)
Word origin
[1600–10]This word is first recorded in the period 1600–10. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: adaptation, operate, skid, syndicate, umbrella