Also 7 valett-, 7–8 valette; 7 vally, 8 vale; 8 valet de shamber, 8–9 valet de sham, 9 valley-de-sham. [F., lit. ‘chamber-valet.’] = VALET sb. 1.
α. 1646. Chas. I., Lett. to Q. Henrietta M. (Camden), 60. One Dubose, valett-de-chambre to the Queen Regent.
1655. Nicholas P. (Camden), II. 291. There finding a valet de chambre attending, the Marquis wild him to tell the prince I was there.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 106, ¶ 2. You would take his Valet de Chambre for his Brother.
1764. Foote, Patron, II. 31. It has been said, and I believe with some shadow of truth, that no man is a hero to his valet de chambre.
1782. V. Knox, Ess., No. 32. 147. I dare say, you remember a shrewd remark of a writer, whose name I cannot recollect, That no great man ever appeared great in the eyes of his valet de chambre.
1839. Dickens, Nickleby, xxviii. With noiseless tread two valets-de-chambre advanced into the room.
1862. H. Aïdé, Carr of Carrlyon, III. 36. Though our valets-de-chambre know us to be no heroes, it is clearly their interest to make us appear such in the eyes of the world.
β. 1678. in Pollock, Popish Plot, App. B. (1903), 384. A vally de chambre to the Lord Bellasis.
1709. O. Dykes, Eng. Prov. (ed. 2), 135. By the conversation of an illiterate Coxcomb of a Vale De Chambre.
1776. Foote, Capuchin, I. Wks. 1799, II. 384. His old shopman, whom he keeps as his valet de sham.
1791. O’Keeffe, Wild Oats, I. i. I wish you hadn’t made me your valet de shamber.
1853. W. Irving, Life & Lett. (1864), IV. 124. The door was opened by Mr. Gray’s factotum and valley-de-sham Phil.
Hence Valet-de-chambreship.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1793), I. 14. His dexterity and intelligence in the science of valet-de-chambreship.
