n. [ OF. varlet, vaslet, vallet, servant, young man, young noble, dim. of vassal. See Vassal, and cf. Valet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman. [ Obs. ] Spenser. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as, an impudent varlet. [ 1913 Webster ]

What a brazen-faced varlet art thou ! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. valeterie the young unmarried nobles. ] The rabble; the crowd; the mob. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shall they hoist me up,
And show me to the shouting varletry
Of censuring Rome. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]