Where does “varlet” come from?
Varlet comes from Old French varlet, from Old French vaslet, from Medieval Latin vassallus, from Late Latin vassus, from Gaulish wassos, from Proto-Celtic wastos, from Proto-Indo-European upo-sth₂-o-s.
varlet (English): A servant or attendant; Specifically, a youth...
Definitions
- A servant or attendant; Specifically, a youth...
Ancestry of “varlet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | varlet | Alternative form of vaslet |
| 2 | Old French | vaslet | manservant; young gentleman |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | vassellittus | — |
| 4 | Latin | vassallus | vassal; servant |
| 5 | Latin | vassus | vassal of vassals; servant |
| 6 | Gaulish | wassos | young man, squire |
| 7 | Proto-Celtic | wāstos | empty |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁weh₂- | to leave, abandon, give out |