Legal Definitions - huscarle

Definition: A huscarle is a historical term that refers to two different types of people:

1. A house servant or domestic; a man of the household.
2. A king's vassal, thane, or baron; an earl's man or vassal.

Examples:

• As a house servant, a huscarle would have been responsible for tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and serving the family.
• As a king's vassal, a huscarle would have been a trusted advisor and warrior who fought for the king in battle.

These examples illustrate the two different meanings of the term huscarle. In the first example, a huscarle is a domestic worker who is part of the household. In the second example, a huscarle is a nobleman who serves the king or earl in a military capacity.