The term "vassal lord" has been a widely used term in medieval times for describing a feudal lord who holds land under a higher-ranking lord's authority. Some synonyms that can be used to describe vassal lord include subordinate lord, underling lord, lesser lord, or feudal liege. Another term that could be used for vassal lord is a tenant-in-chief. The tenant-in-chief holds land directly from the king and has vassals of their own, making them an intermediary lord. In the feudal system, the vassal lord played a critical role as the intermediary responsible for administering justice, collecting taxes, and providing military service to the lord above them.