\Vil"lain\, n. [OE. vilein, F. vilain, LL. villanus,
from villa a village, L. villa a farm. See {Villa}.]
1. (Feudal Law) 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.
Note: Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant, that
      is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti gleb[ae]); 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.

\Vil"lain\, a. [F. vilain.]
Villainous. [R.] --Shak.

\Vil"lain\, v. t.
To debase; to degrade. [Obs.] --Sir T. More.