valet

[va-ley, val-it, val-ey]

noun

1. a male servant who attends to the personal needs of his male employer, as by taking care of clothing or the like; manservant.

2. a man who is employed for cleaning and pressing, laundering, and similar services for patrons of a hotel, passengers on a ship, etc.

3. an attendant who parks cars for patrons at a hotel, restaurant, etc.

4. a stand or rack for holding coats, hats, etc.

verb (used with or without object)

valeted, valeting 

1. to serve as a valet.

valet

/ ˈvæleɪ, ˈvælɪt /

noun

1. French name: valet de chambre. a manservant who acts as personal attendant to his employer, looking after his clothing, serving his meals, etc

2. a manservant who attends to the requirements of patrons in a hotel, passengers on board ship, etc; steward

verb

1. to act as a valet for (a person)

2. (tr) to clean the bodywork and interior of (a car) as a professional service

Other Word Forms

• valetless adjective
• unvaleted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of valet¹

1560–70; < French; Middle French va ( s ) let squire, equivalent to vas- (< Medieval Latin vassus servant) + -let -let; vassal

Word History and Origins

Origin of valet¹

C16: from Old French vaslet page, from Medieval Latin vassus servant; see _vassal

Example Sentences

She married valet John Bates at the beginning of Season 3 and the couple went through numerous ups and downs in the years that followed, including several miscarriages.

From Los Angeles Times

Sydney began to look for his valet cohorts who were usually speeding like racehorses to fetch cars for the long line of guests.

From Los Angeles Times

A valet parked cars as guests arrived on Fareholm Drive, which twists above Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times

The violence began just after 7:30 a.m., when police say the unidentified gunman walked through a parking lot from the north and emerged in the valet area of the Grand Sierra Resort.

From Los Angeles Times

“All of the shooting happened outside of the casino, most of it occurred near the valet area. but the scene does extend over to the north side,” she added.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attendant 
• servant