valet

[va-ley, val-it, val-ey]

noun

1. a male servant who attends to the personal needs of his male employer, as by taking care of clothing or the like; manservant.

2. a man who is employed for cleaning and pressing, laundering, and similar services for patrons of a hotel, passengers on a ship, etc.

3. an attendant who parks cars for patrons at a hotel, restaurant, etc.

4. a stand or rack for holding coats, hats, etc.

verb (used with or without object)

valeted, valeting 

1. to serve as a valet.

valet

/ ˈvæleɪ, ˈvælɪt /

noun

1. French name: valet de chambre. a manservant who acts as personal attendant to his employer, looking after his clothing, serving his meals, etc

2. a manservant who attends to the requirements of patrons in a hotel, passengers on board ship, etc; steward

verb

1. to act as a valet for (a person)

2. (tr) to clean the bodywork and interior of (a car) as a professional service

Other Word Forms

• valetless adjective
• unvaleted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of valet¹

1560–70; < French; Middle French va ( s ) let squire, equivalent to vas- (< Medieval Latin vassus servant) + -let -let; vassal

Word History and Origins

Origin of valet¹

C16: from Old French vaslet page, from Medieval Latin vassus servant; see _vassal

Related Words

• attendant 
• servant