flunkey

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A footman or other man-servant.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “flunkey” mean?

A footman or other man-servant.

Is “flunkey” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.