Lackey (manservant)

Valet (center) and lackey (right) serve wine. Illustration from H. Reuß zu Köstritz: Der korrekte Diener, Paul Parey Verlag, Berlin 1900; p. 21

A lackey or lacquey, in its original definition (attested 1529, according to the Oxford English Dictionary), is a uniformed manservant.

The modern connotation of "servile follower" appeared later, in 1588 (OED).[1]

  1. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary - "Lackey"". Etymonline.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2019-06-24.