varlet noun. ['vɑ:lɪt] LME.
[Old French, var. of vaslet, vadlet, VALET.]
1. A man or boy acting as an attendant or servant; a menial, a groom. arch. LME.
b. spec. An attendant on a knight or other person of military importance. Now Hist. L15.
c. = SERGEANT 7. L16-M17.

2. The jack in cards. E16-E17.

3. A person of a mean or unprincipled disposition; a rogue, a rascal. Also used as a (mock) contemptuous form of address. Now arch. or joc. M16.

■ varletess noun (rare) a female varlet M18.

■ varletry noun varlets collectively; a number or crowd of attendants or of rogues: E17.

■ varletto noun (rare, Shakes.) = VARLET 3: only in L16.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲