ETYM Old Eng. lige, lege, French lige, Late Lat. ligius, legius, liege, unlimited, complete, prob. of German origin.
Owing or owed feudal allegiance and service.

1. A free and independent person; specif., a lord paramount; a sovereign.
2. The subject of a sovereign or lord.
In the feudal system, the allegiance owed by a vassal to his or her lord (the liege lord).