varlet

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: var=let

CIDE DICTIONARY

varlet, n. [OF. varlet, vaslet, vallet, servant, young man, young noble, dim. of vassal. See Vassal, and cf. Valet.].

•  A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman.  Spenser. Tusser.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as, an impudent varlet.  [1913 Webster]

  "What a brazen-faced varlet art thou !"  [1913 Webster]
•  In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

varlet, n. archaic or joc.
1 a menial or rascal.
2 hist. a knight's attendant.

Derivative

varletry n.

Etymology

ME f. OF, var. of vaslet: see VALET

ROGET THESAURUS

varlet

Bad Man

N bad man, wrongdoer, worker of iniquity, evildoer, sinner, the wicked, bad example, villain, rascal, scoundrel, miscreant, budmash, caitiff, wretch, reptile, viper, serpent, cockatrice, basilisk, urchin, tiger, monster, devil, devil incarnate, demon in human shape, Nana Sahib, hellhound, hellcat, rakehell, bad woman, jade, Jezebel, scamp, scapegrace, rip, runagate, ne'er-do-well, reprobate, scalawag, scallawag, rou_e, rake, Sadist, skeesicks, skeezix, limb, one who has sold himself to the devil, fallen angel, ame damnee, vaurien, mauvais sujet, loose fish, sad dog, rounder, lost sheep, black sheep, castaway, recreant, defaulter, prodigal, rough, rowdy, hooligan, tough, ugly customer, mean mother, ruffian, bully, meanie, Jonathan Wild, hangman, incendiary, arsonist, fire bug, thief, murderer, terrorist, culprit, delinquent, crook, hoodlum, hood, criminal, thug, malefactor, offender, perpetrator, perp, disorderly person, misdemeanant, outlaw, scofflaw, vandal, felon, (convicted criminal), criminal, convict, prisoner, inmate, jail bird, ticket of leave man, multiple offender, blackguard, polisson, loafer, sneak, rapscallion, rascallion, cullion, mean wretch, varlet, kern, ame-de-boue, drole, cur, dog, hound, whelp, mongrel, lown, loon, runnion, outcast, vagabond, rogue, ronian, scum of the earth, riffraff, Arcades ambo, Int, sirrah!, Acherontis pabulum, gibier de potence.