A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Varlet, n. Also: varlett, -lat, -lo(i)t, warlet(t, -latt, -lot, warllet, verlete, -lot(e, werlot, -lait, virlett, -lat, -lot(e, wirlocht, (verlet-, -lat-). [e.m.E. varlette (1470-85), varlet (Caxton), verlet (1509), varlot (1584), verlate (1604), OF varlet, med. L. varletus; f. as Vallet(t n.]
1. A servant, a groom, an attendant, also with qualifier indicating the type of servant. Also attrib. b. Varlet of (in) (the, our, etc.) chalmer (wardrob), a personal servant to the king, queen, etc.(1) 1456 Hay I 240/16.
Here speris the doctour, gif the varlet of the labourare, that is for to say his hyre man that dryvis the pleuche, suld joys the privilege of the maister 1525 Edinb. Hammermen MS 114b.
To the twa warlotis xvj d. 15.. Clar. ii 202.
Ane messinger come in his [gait] meitting From fair Meliades his lady deir, Whilk was hir awin varlat Bonvaleir 15.. Clar. ii 701.
He sall ȝour varlot be … If ȝe him list, for tearme of lyfe poseid 1588 Sc. Ant. VII 77.
William Mcray, varlat to the kyngs majestie c1593 Misc. Spald. C. I 6.
Your maiesties maist humble subiect and affectionat uarlet(b) 1453 Exch. R. V 538.]
[Pro gagiis verletorum servancium dictos equos 1454 Exch. R. V 686.]
Pro expensis equorum verlatorum canum domini regis a1500 Prestis of Peblis 72 (A).
The bischopis first with prelotis and abbotis With thar clerkis thar seruandis and werlotis 1495 Mill Mediæv. Plays 226.
To the ij werlaitis in brecatynis xvj d. a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 13/12.
The Devyll … bad gallandis … cast wp gambaldis to the skyis As verlottis dois in France 1513 Doug. xii ii 87.
The byssy knapys and verlettis of hys stabill Abowt thame [sc. the horses] stud 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 15.
Gevin to the Cardinal of Loranis werlotis, x cronis … gevin to the Quene of Frauncis verletis, x cronis(2) 1533 Boece 620a.
The … nobillis of this kinrik ourder of preistis freris carlis or of horsverlottis war gottin(3) attrib. 1456 Hay II 15/11.
Thai ordanyt him a squier, and a varlet page to be ever contynualy at his bidding and service … the squiar to gang with him at his bidding, the page to kepe his horsb. 1461 Soc. Ant. XXVI 466.
Johne Maiel, govldsmithe and verlete off chamer til the lord the Dalfyne 1536–7 Hamilton P. I 41.
Johnie Tennent, verlote of our chalmer 1561 Inv. Q. Mary xviii.
Ane lettre maid to Seruais de Condez warlett of hir hienes chalmer gevand to him the keiping of hir hienes place of Haliruidhous 1561 Inv. Q. Mary cxli.
Varloit 1561 Inv. Q. Mary cxlii.
Ane pendakill of silk ane frontoll of clayth of gold and purpour velvat … all this geyr receivit be me Servais varlot of chalmer a1568 Bann. MS 243b/64.
Wald God my body war fornenttit That I micht serve hir grace but glammer To be hir knaif I am contenttit Or smallest varlet in hir chammer 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 166.
Ane ambassatour come fra the king of France … ane of the verlottis of his chamber … brocht … ane wretting … for mantenance of the allia betuix the said king and thame 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 178/1.
[Appointment of William Murray,] varlet of oure soverane lordis chalmer [as] varlett of his hienes wardrop 1585 Acts III 382/2.
The liferent … gevin be his maiestie to William Murray warlet in his chalmer of the landis of Cornetoun 1593 Reg. Great S. 772/1.
Joanni Gib servo lie warllet in cubiculo suo 1595 Exch. R. XXIII 5.
Johnne Gib, verlet of his majesteis chamber a1651 Calderwood V 116.
The querrell was, that [the laird of] Logie, a varlett of the king's chamber, would not ishe at the duke's command … till he was putt out by force(b) 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 66.
Serwaice Duncondie, virlat of the quenis gracis chalmer 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 87.
To … virlattis of the chalmer, to pay for thair furnest bed pavilȝeoun 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II 281.
xl lib. deliuerit to Robert Farsail virlot of the queinis grace chalmer 1566 Treas. Acc. XII 12.
To Balthasar virlote in the chalmer twa grit balhuiffis xv li. 1566 Treas. Acc. XII 396.
[To Serway Ducondye] wirlocht in our chalmer 1573 Treas. Acc. XII 347.
Virlett
2. The knave or jack in a pack of playing cards. Only in fig. context.a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 43.
Dirtin Dumbar … Waik walidrag and verlot of the cairtis 1558-66 Knox I 262.
The articles of his beleve war; ‘I Referr: Decarte yow: Ha, ha, the four kinges and all maid: The Devill go with it: It is but a varlett’
3. A rogue, rascal, scoundrel. Also, to play a … varlet.(1) 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 904.
Ane scaffing warlot wanting schame … Thrie of thair haiknes he tuik hame c1615 Chron. Kings 19.
He wes murdreist … be ane harpar warlatt Urquhart Jewel (1834) 213.
Those quomodocunquizing clusterfists and rapacious varlets(2) a1651 Calderwood II 172.
So faine would the comptroller have played a good varlett, and satisfeid the queene, or elles have made up his owne profite
