PARAVAIL

Etymology

Adjective

paravail (not comparable)

At the bottom; lowest (said of feudal tenants)

Source: Wiktionary

Par`a*vail", a. Etym: [OF. par aval below; par through (L. per) + aval down; a- (L. ad) + val (L. vallis) a valley. Cf. Paramount.] (Eng. Law)

Definition: At the bottom; lowest. Cowell.

Note: In feudal law, the tenant paravail is the lowest tenant of the fee, or he who is immediate tenant to one who holds over of another. Wharton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition