Middle English Dictionary Entry
valet n.
Entry Info
| Forms | valet n. Also valette, vadlet, varlet(te, (in surnames) vallet, vatlet; pl. varlettis, verlattes. |
| Etymology | OF vaslet, val(l)et, vadlet, varlet & ML val(l)ettus, varletus, AL vatlettus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A male servant; a groom; also, a knight’s attendant, yeoman; ?a military orderly [quot. 1357]; valettis graines, ?livery or cloth for livery of guildsmen’s servants [quot. 1425-6];
(b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (1349) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.695 : [He leaves…to John Normand, his] vadlet, [two marks].
- (1357) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59243 : [50 marks yearly for his life to his] vadlet, [John de Sarnesfeld, for his services in Gascony, and especially at the battle of Poictiers, at which he was appointed to attend on the Prince’s body].
- (1425-6) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)157 : Resseyved of lowes Rany, venystian, For desseyt en iiij valettis Greynes…vj li.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)212/31 : The nombre of his withholden chiualry…was cccxiijm without varlettis [DSPhilos.: yemen] and other peple necessarie for werre.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)548/21 : Kynge Marke was armed all in blacke…and…at a prevy postern they two yssued oute with their verlattes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)556/16 : Nowe…speke we of the knyght…hys varlette alyght and toke of hys helme.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)590/12 : This knyght callyd to hym a varlet and bade hym, ‘Ryde untyll yondir…maner, and commaunde me to the lady.’
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1349 : Abowte her she toke good heede Yf sche sawe oughte the straunge valet. To love hym…hur hertte he [read: be] sette.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1359 : Your valette, damysell, ys agoone; Ofte grette you wele that wyghte!
b
- (1198) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames361 : Walter Vadlet.
- (1221) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames361 : Robert Valet.
- (1242) Close R.Hen.III74 : Johannes le Vadlet, mercator.
- (1246) Close R.Hen.III493 : John le Vatlet.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2327 : Robertus Valet.
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19263 : Johannes Vallet Carnifex.
- (1327) Nickname in LuSE 5560 : Rob. Boneualet.
- (1396) Nickname in LuSE 55103 : Mugeon Grauntvalet.
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.461 : In navi Johannis Varlett’ xviii die Decembris.