Noun

1. A servant or attendant.
   • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 2, ch. 8, The Electon

     The Winchester Manorhouse has fled bodily, like a Dream of the old Night (...) . House and people, royal and episcopal, lords and varlets, where are they?

2. Specifically, a youth acting as a knight's attendant at the beginning of his training for knighthood.
3. A rogue or scoundrel.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 410:

     My lady to be called a nasty Scotch wh–re by such a varlet!—To be sure I wish I had knocked his brains out with the punchbowl.

4. The Jack.