Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “varlet” come from?

varlet (Old French) comes from Old French vaslet, from Medieval Latin vassellittus, from Latin vassallus, from Latin vassus, from Gaulish wassos, from Proto-Celtic wāstos, from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- — to leave, abandon, give out.

varlet (Old French): Alternative form of vaslet

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of vaslet

Ancestry of “varlet”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchvasletmanservant; young gentleman
2Medieval Latinvassellittus—
3Latinvassallusvassal; servant
4Latinvassusvassal of vassals; servant
5Gaulishwassosyoung man, squire
6Proto-Celticwāstosempty
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weh₂-to leave, abandon, give out

Words derived from “varlet”

  • varlet
  • varletess
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- →