varlet
/ˈvɑːlət/
"varlet" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“varlet” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A servant or attendant.
Corpus desk
Index EN-varlet · varlet · English
varlet · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 6 letters
- VOW-2 2 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "V" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | varlet |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈvɑːlət/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “varlet” in English
Rare enough to double-check
varlet is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈvɑːlət/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.
No generated misspelling entries exist for varlet in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English varlet, varlette, from Old French varlet, variant of vadlet, vallet, vaslet. Doublet of valet. The correct English form is varlet, spelled V-A-R-L-E-T.
Definition
- 1A servant or attendant.
- 2Specifically, a youth acting as a knight's attendant at the beginning of his training for knighthood.
- 3A rogue or scoundrel.
- 4The jack.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how varlet appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
The varlet, or follower of the merchant, who was still a youth, though his vigorous frame and embrowned cheek denoted equally severe exercise and rude exposure, started and reddened at this free inquiry, which was enforced by a hand slapped familiarly on his knee, and such a squeeze of the leg as denoted the freedom of the camp.
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?
Etymology
From Middle English varlet, varlette, from Old French varlet, variant of vadlet, vallet, vaslet. Doublet of valet.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.