varlet

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An attendant or servant.
2. n. A knight's page.
3. n. A rascal; a knave.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Originally, a very young man of noble or knightly birth, serving an apprenticeship in knightly exercises and accomplishments while awaiting elevation to the rank of knight; hence (because such youths served as pages or personal servants to the knights who had charge of them), a body-servant or attendant. (See valet.) The name was also given to the city bailiffs or Serjeants.
2. n. Hence, one in a subordinate or menial position; a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; a rogue: a term of contempt or reproach.
3. n. The coat-card now called the knave or jack (in French, valet).

Wiktionary

1. n. obsolete A servant or attendant.
2. n. historical Specifically, a youth acting as a knight's attendant at the beginning of his training for knighthood.
3. n. archaic A rogue or scoundrel.
4. n. obsolete, card games The jack.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman.
2. n. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal.
3. n. obsolete In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
2. n. in medieval times a youth acting as a knight's attendant as the first stage in training for knighthood