Homage
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For a description of the medieval homage ceremony see commendation ceremony
Homage is generally used in modern English to mean any public show of respect to someone to whom you feel indebted. In this sense, a reference within a creative work to someone who greatly influenced the artist would be an homage. It is typically used to denote a reference in a work of art or literature to another, at least somewhat widely known, work of art; see In-joke for a somewhat similar meaning.
The original meaning of homage was the ceremony in which a feudal tenant or vassal pledged reverence and submission to his feudal lord, receiving in exchange the symbolic title to his new position (investiture). It was a symbolic acknowledgment to the lord that the vassal was, literally, his man (homme). More generally, it included any formal profession of reverence to a sovereign.
See also
Fealty, allegiance, bond, call of duty, charge, responsibility, duty, good faith, honor, line of duty, mission, presenting arms, service.