Varlet

Quick meaning: Varlet is a noun meaning (obsolete) A servant or attendant.

Meaning

(obsolete) A servant or attendant.

More Meanings

1. (historical) Specifically, a youth acting as a knight's attendant at the beginning of his training for knighthood.
2. (archaic) A rogue or scoundrel.
3. (obsolete, card games) The jack.

Example Sentences

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.

[W]hen the worlde is fraughted with ſo manye varlettes, that it will be a long time ere a man ſhall diſcerne the faythful from the Hipocrites.

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?

[T]here was a little, sleek, fat clerk of the name of Chaucer, who was so apt at rondel, sirvente, or tonson, that no man dare give back a foot from the walls, lest he find it all set down in his rhymes and sung by every underling and varlet in the camp.

Word Forms

• varlets

Synonyms for varlet

Depending on context, synonyms include rogue, rascal, knave, page, rapscallion, scallywag.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include knave, rapscallion, rogue, rascal, scallywag, scalawag.

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