varlet
(ˈvɑːlɪt)
Forms: α. 5– varlet (6 Sc. warllet, 7 varlett), 5–6 varlette; 6–7 varlot (6 Sc. war-). β. 6 verlet (-lett, -lette), 7 verlate; 6 verlot (Sc. wer-), -lotte.
[a. OF. varlet (14th c.), var. of vaslet, vadlet, vallet valet. Hence also med.L. varletus. In mod.F. varlet is restricted to the historical sense 1 b.]
1. A man or lad acting as an attendant or servant; a menial, a groom. Now arch.
| α 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 240 The varlet of the labourare, that is for to say his hyre man that dryvis the pleuche. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 154 b/2, I haue rychesses ynough, seruantes, varlettes,..and kynnysmen whiche serue me. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lv. 187 This varlet semeth rather sone to a kyng..then to be a varlet to a mynstrell. 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 94 She calls out to the varlets she doth keep,..Braine the dog's master first, and then the cur. 1661 Blount Glossogr. (ed. 2), Vadelet,..a Benchers Clerk or Servant. The Butlers of the house corruptly call them Varlets. 1684 Burnet tr. More's Utopia 109 If it should so happen, that..all this Wealth should pass from the Master to the meanest Varlet of his whole Family. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. ii. viii, Lords and varlets, where are they? 1853 James Agnes Sorel (1860) I. 124 Acquiring very rapidly from the different varlets and pages a vast amount of information. |
| β 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxvi. (Percy Soc.) 114 Than on my jorney,..Wyth my verlet called Attendaunce, Forthe on I rode. 1513 Douglas æneid xii. ii. 13 The byssy knaipis and verlettis of his stabill About thame [sc. the horses] stud. 1557 Tusser 100 Points Husb. xli, Kepe neuer such seruantes, as doth thee no good, For nestling of verlettes..make[s] many a rich man to shet vp his doores. |
b. spec. An attendant on a knight or other person of military importance. Now only
Hist.| 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. xiv. 434 Thenne this Knyght called to hym a varlette, and badde hym ryde vntyl younder fayr manoyre. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 69 Whan Parys coude wel speke mouryske, he and his varlet took the waye toward ynde. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss I. xvi. 16 The archers who were to the nombre of iii. M. shotte faste theyr arowes, nat sparyng maisters nor varlettis. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. V. 50 Divers beyng wounded wer releued by theyr varlettes and conveighed out of the felde. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. iv. 37 Far away they spyde A varlet running towards hastily... Behind his backe he bore a brasen shield. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. i. i. 1 Call here my Varlet, Ile vnarme againe. Why should I warre without the wals of Troy? 1825 Scott Talism. iii, Some fifty more men, archers and varlets included. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. iii. 123 In one month the French lost upwards of a hundred varlets. 1889 F. Cowper Capt. of Wight 167 Their esquires were waiting outside, and their varlets were leading their horses..up and down. |
† c. varlet of the chamber,
= valet-de-chambre.
Obs.| 1567 Throgmorton in Robertson Hist. Scot. (1851) II. 435 [She requested] to have her apothecary..and..to have a varlet of the chamber. 1588 Excheq. Rolls Scot. XXI. 403 To William Murray, varlett of his majesteis chalmer, for his pensioun. 1596 Nashe Saffron Walden Wks. (Grosart) III. 158 His voiage vnder Don Anthonio was nothing so great credit to him, as a French Varlet of the chamber is. [1664 Butler Hud. ii. i. 406 'Tis this that Proudest Dames enamors On Lacquies, and Varlets des-Chambres.] |
† d. = sergeant n. 8.
Obs.| 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iv. ix, Why, you were best get one o' the varlets o' the citie, a serieant. 1620 Melton Astrolog. 73 Those that stand before both the Compters,..who appeare in the shapes of Sergeants, alias Varlets. 1638 Shirley Mart. Soldier v, I was first a Varlet, then a Bum⁓baily, now an under Jailor. |
2. A person of a low, mean, or knavish disposition; a knave, rogue, rascal.
In later use
freq. without serious implication of bad qualities.
| α 1555 in Coverdale Lett. Martyrs (1564) 173 Then my lord sayd, thou art a very varlet. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xiv. iii. 297 A notable cousening varlot, who professed Alcumystrie. 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Immed. Addr. 213 Is not this a varlet in graine: a fit Patron of Inuocation? 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 307 All shall see that you were arrant varlots, such as Religion can receive no blemish from. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. v, A little contemptible varlet, without the least title to birth, person, wit. 1777 Sheridan Trip Scarb. v. ii, Look, if the varlet has not the effrontery to call his lordship plain Thomas. 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall viii, A handsome boy,..but a mischievous varlet. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xl. (1856) 365 We are an uncouth, snobby, and withal, shabby-looking set of varlets. 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. of Fleet i. x, In the doorway were the two impudent varlets, whom he called his clerks. |
| β a 1550 Image Hypocr. ii. 518 in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 429/1 The helper of harlettes, And captayne of verlettes, The cloke of all vnthriftes. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 144 Such Lords ill example doth giue, where verlets and drabs so may liue. a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 29 Now see the villany of these verlates. |
b. Employed as an abusive form of address.
| 1566 W. Adlington Apuleius 55 Thou presumest and thinkest, thou triflinge boye, thou verlette,..that thou arte most worthy and excellent. 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Schism 116 Know you (varlets) whom you dally-with? 1676 D'Urfey Mme. Fickle iii. i, Out of my doors thou Varlet; away. 1706 Addison Rosamond i. iii, Faithless Varlet, art thou there? 1773 Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. v. ii, And is it to you, you graceless varlet, I owe all this? 1829 Lytton Devereux ii. iv, ‘Now for thee, varlet,’ cried Tarleton, brandishing his rapier. 1841 James Brigand iii, Run, sir varlet, run. |
† c. In the
phr. to play the..varlet.
Obs.| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 871/1 To play the verie varlets against all goodnesse:..we see the wicked are giuen to this. 1615–20 C. More Life Sir T. More (1828) 318 He fell to scoffing,..and played the very varlet with the king. 1651 D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk (1843) II. 172 So faine would the comptroller have played a good varlett, and satisfeid the queene, or elles have made up his owne profite. |
† d. transf. (See
quot.)
Obs.| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. i. 18 Thou are thought to be Achilles male Varlot. Patr. Male Varlot you Rogue: What's that? Ther. Why his masculine Whore. |
† 3. The knave in cards.
Obs. [So F.
valet.]
| 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 43 Waik walidrag, and werlot [v.r. verlot] of the cairtis. 1579 Rice Invective agst. Vices B iv, [They] are more at quiete with the Ace, Kyng, Queene, or Varlet of Spades, then thei can be with a Spade to digge..for their liuyng. Ibid., Varlette of the Hartes. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. iv. i, Mad. We call'd him a Coat-card O' the last order. P. Iv. What's that? a Knaue? Mad. Some readings haue it so, my manuscript Doth speake it, Varlet. |
4. attrib. as
varlet heretic,
varlet page,
varlet rebel.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Bk. Knighthood Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 15 Thai ordanyt him a squier, and a varlet page to be ever contynualy at his bidding and service. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 68 Did the maior of London thrust throughe Jacke Straw beinge but a verlet rebell, and onely disquietinge the Citye? 1563 Foxe A. & M. 1581/2 He is the naughtiest verlet heretique, that euer I knewe. |
¶ 5. App. used for
warlock.
| 1703 Brand New Desc. Ork. & Zetland viii. 110 There is a House called Kebister, where a Varlet or Wizard lived. |
Hence
ˈvarletess, a female varlet.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa I. xxxi. 196 It was more Pride than Love..that put me upon making such a confounded rout about losing this noble varletess. Ibid. VI. 96 Eight o'clock at Mid-summer, and these lazy varletesses (in full health) not come down yet to breakfast! |