I. ˈva-lət, ˈva-(ˌ)lā, va-ˈlā noun
Etymology: Middle English vadlet, valet, from Anglo-French, young man of noble birth serving a lord, boy, servant, from Medieval Latin * vassellittus, diminutive of vassus servant — more at vassal
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a man's male servant who performs personal services (as taking care of clothing)
b. : an employee (as of a hotel or a public facility) who performs personal services for customers
2. : a device (as a rack or tray) for holding clothing or personal effects
II. transitive verb
Date: 1840
: to serve as a valet