varlet

[ vahr-lit ]
See synonyms for varlet on Thesaurus.com
nounArchaic.
  1. a knavish person; rascal.

    • an attendant or servant.

    • a page who serves a knight.

Origin of varlet

1
1425–75; late Middle English <Middle French; variant of valet

Words Nearby varlet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use varlet in a sentence

  • He had been regarding with interest a shackled-kneed varlet holding a halberd in his arms as if it had been a fractious bairn.

    Joan of the Sword Hand | S(amuel) R(utherford) Crockett
  • A white mule with red trappings, led by a varlet, carried Sir Nigel's own napery and table comforts.

    The White Company | Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Neither varlet nor ostler could be seen, so he pushed open the door and called loudly for the landlord.

    The White Company | Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Then the varlet went his way and came to the manor, and saluted the lady, and told her from whence he came.

  • And when he had done and ended this battle, anon he called to him his varlet, the which brought him his horse.

British Dictionary definitions for varlet

varlet

/ (ˈvɑːlɪt) /


nounarchaic
  1. a menial servant

  2. a knight's page

  1. a rascal

Origin of varlet

1
C15: from Old French, variant of vallet valet

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