Suzerain, a feudal lord. The term was applied less to the king than to his vassals who had subvassals holding of them. In modern times suzerainty indicates a degree of formal or real authority varying from the relation of the Ottoman porte to the tributary states, to that of the British crown to the Transvaal or South African Republic.
Suzerain
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 9: Bound to Swansea, p. 825
Source scan(s): p. 0844