Today’s Word: Varlet (Noun)

Pronunciation: [‘vah(r)-let]

Definition 1: (1) An attendant or servant; a knight’s page. (2) A rascal; a knave

Usage 1: While "varmint" skulks in the shady reputation of slang, today’s is a word of sterling character and reputation that may be used in any situation where it is appropriate to speak of varletry. That’s right, the behavior of varlets is "varletry."

Suggested Usage: Perhaps you think the days of varlets, rascals, and knaves has passed but, if you look around carefully, you will see that they remain well represented in the current population: "Sometimes it seems as though only varlets, knaves, and rascals can reach high office in business or government." Of course, it only seems that way. If no decent people rose to high positions in business and government, no one would be chasing the varlets out today!

Etymology: Today’s word is a variant of Old French vaslet "squire, servant," which reduced to "valet" in modern French. "Vaslet" is akin to vassal "feudal tenant," the root of which is vas-, a word of Celtic origin. It originates in Old Gaulish vassus or vasso "servant, young man," a word related to Welsh "gwas," Irish "foss," and Breton "goaz," according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

            -Dr. Language, yourDictionary.com

From the AHD:

vav·a·sor also vav·a·sour
(click to hear the word) (vv-sôr, -sr, -sr)
n.
A feudal tenant who ranked directly below a baron or peer.

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[Middle English vavasour, from Old French, from Medieval Latin vavassor, possibly contraction of vassus vassorum, vassal of vassals : vassus, vassal (from Vulgar Latin *vassus; see vassal) + vassorum, genitive pl. of vassus, vassal.]

I wonder, is there a word for the vassal of a vassal of a vassal? I am reminded of the following:

So, naturalists observe, a flea
Hath smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite ‘em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.
Jonathan Swift