Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VAV'A-SOR, n. [This word in old books is variously written, valvasor, vavasour, valvasour. It is said to be from vassal. But qu.]

Camden holds that the vavasor was next below a baron. Du Cange maintains that there were two sorts of vavators; the greater, who held of the king, such as barons and counts; and the lesser, called valvasini, who held of the former. The dignity or rank is no longer in use, and the name is known only in books. Cyc.