valet
[va-ley, val-it, val-ey]
- a male servant who attends to the personal needs of his male employer, as by taking care of clothing or the like; manservant.
- a man who is employed for cleaning and pressing, laundering, and similar services for patrons of a hotel, passengers on a ship, etc.
- an attendant who parks cars for patrons at a hotel, restaurant, etc.
- a stand or rack for holding coats, hats, etc.
Show More
- to serve as a valet.
Show More
Origin of valet
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for valet
Contemporary Examples
A valet found Hilton's possessions down the road from her property and her driver retrieved them.
Elle Macpherson Remarries; "Bling Ring" Copycats Attempt to Rob Paris HiltonThe Fashion Beast Team
August 5, 2013
In keeping with its Los Angeles origins, Pinkberry is a valet operation.
After a few years, he ended up in Moscow, where he was briefly employed as valet to a wealthy nobleman.
The food might be pretty, but you just want the valet to bring your car around already.
A few minutes later, a blue, economy-sized vehicle pulls up and a valet yells our name.
Historical Examples
Mr. Wing is an American-born Chinese and practises the profession of a valet.
The Garden of Bright WatersVarious
The valet drew near and whispered something in his master's ear.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Now did I not hear him this minute announced by his own valet?
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
The Marquis looked that way, and listened for the retreating step of his valet.
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
The General also had two servants with him, a valet, and a maid.
The Inn at the Red OakLatta Griswold
valet
- a manservant who acts as personal attendant to his employer, looking after his clothing, serving his meals, etcFrench name: valet de chambre
- a manservant who attends to the requirements of patrons in a hotel, passengers on board ship, etc; steward
Show More
- to act as a valet for (a person)
- (tr) to clean the bodywork and interior of (a car) as a professional service
Show More
Word Origin
C16: from Old French vaslet page, from Medieval Latin vassus servant; see vassal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for valet
n.
"personal man-servant," mid-14c., from Old French valet, variant of vaslet "man's servant," originally "squire, young man," from Gallo-Romance *vassellittus "young nobleman, squire, page," diminutive of Medieval Latin vassallus, from vassus "servant" (see vassal). Modern sense is usually short for valet de chambre; the general sense of "male household servant of the meaner sort" going with the variant form varlet. First recorded use of valet parking is from 1960.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper