A feudal landholder was a person of high social rank in the Middle Ages who held land from a lord in exchange for military service. The two most common terms for this type of landholder were 'THANE' (5 letters) and 'VASSAL' (6 letters). Thanes were typically of noble birth, while vassals were usually of lower social standing. Both thanes and vassals were expected to provide military service to their lord in exchange for the use of the land.