A lackey was a male servant who assisted a butler and performed various duties within a household. They were highly regarded for their good looks and dress. The term also applied to foot soldiers and a piece of furniture used to keep crockery warm in front of the fire.
The term “lackey” has two main applications. Most commonly, the word applied to a male servant employed by a family, palace, or person of greatness. He typically served under a butler, acting as assistant to him and the family, but was once considered more of a luxury to employ than cooks, maids, and other female servants. Though common among wealthy families in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a valet is a less common employee today, mostly found only in wealthier families, such as royalty.
The name probably derives from the functions it performed. He was employed to run alongside carriages and perform other livery duties as well as waiting tables, opening and closing doors, or running errands. Unlike a butler, whose primary job is to greet guests, a butler might perform various duties within a household. In many cases, he would be obligated to a specific person within a household who acts as a private servant rather than a general servant, adding to the lure of luxury and status.
A valet in earlier centuries would have been highly regarded for good stature and good looks. They were often required to dress in clothing that was impractical for the duties they performed. However, it was important that they were comfortable, especially in the presence of visitors.
The term has also been applied to soldiers, or foot soldiers, who served on foot rather than mounted. Typically, these soldiers served higher-ranking military officers in various capacities, and as a result, the word probably applied to domestic servitude. Coincidentally, if a family had more than one, they would have a similar rank to the army. The most senior valet would be second to the butler and could act accordingly in the butler’s absence.
This word can also be applied to a brass or steel piece of furniture, similar in design to the stool, which was commonly used to keep crockery warm in front of the fire. These specific period pieces, which would be hard to locate before the 1800s, would be considered antique fireplace tools.
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