VARLET

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does varlet mean? 

• VARLET (noun)
  The noun VARLET has 2 senses:

1. a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

2. in medieval times a youth acting as a knight's attendant as the first stage in training for knighthood

  Familiarity information: VARLET used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VARLET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

knave; rapscallion; rascal; rogue; scalawag; scallywag; varlet

Hypernyms ("varlet" is a kind of...):

scoundrel; villain (a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In medieval times a youth acting as a knight's attendant as the first stage in training for knighthood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

page; varlet

Hypernyms ("varlet" is a kind of...):

attendant; attender; tender (someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another)

 Context examples 

You may ride with me and welcome, Master Micheldene, and your varlet may follow with my archers.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And yet I have seen the moral of my own behaviour very frequent in England since my return; where a little contemptible varlet, without the least title to birth, person, wit, or common sense, shall presume to look with importance, and put himself upon a foot with the greatest persons of the kingdom.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

At this moment there was a clatter of hoofs upon the road, and a varlet by the door cried out that one of the Englishmen was coming back.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Nay, my fair lord,” said Alleyne, “these are not horses and a squire, but mules and a varlet. The man is a mercer, for he hath a great bundle beside him.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was one, indeed, Sir Peter, who smote out like a true man; but, unless he is belied, he did but clip a varlet's ear, which was no very knightly deed.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So shrill was the outcry that both the inn-keeper and Alleyne, with every varlet within hearing, rushed wildly to the scene of the uproar.

(The White Company, by Sir 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, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Nay, lady, said du Guesclin, it does not befit so great and wondrous a power to pry and search and play the varlet even to the beautiful chatelaine of Villefranche.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Tapster, ostler, varlet, hark hither, and a wannion on your lazy limbs!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A white mule with red trappings, led by a varlet, carried Sir Nigel's own napery and table comforts.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)