varlet

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[edit] English

From Old French varlet. Compare valet.

varlet (plural varlets)

(obsolete) A servant or attendant.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 2, ch. 8, The Electon
  
  The Winchester Manorhouse has fled bodily, like a Dream of the old Night (...) . House and people, royal and episcopal, lords and varlets, where are they?
(historical) Specifically, a youth acting as a knight's attendant at the beginning of his training for knighthood.
(archaic) A rogue or scoundrel.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 410:
  
  My lady to be called a nasty Scotch wh–re by such a varlet!—To be sure I wish I had knocked his brains out with the punchbowl.
(obsolete, card games) The jack.

A servant or attendant

a youth acting as a knight's attendant at the beginning of his training for knighthood

a rogue or scoundrel

the jack