Also vaut-rien, vaut rien. [F. vaurien, f. vaut 3rd pers. sing. pres. of valoir to be worth + rien nothing.] A worthless, good-for-nothing fellow; a scamp.
α. 1825–9. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, V. xxx. 152. Then to be called an idle fellow—a vaut rien—a Miss Molly—it is what I cannot bear.
1880. Ruskin, Fors Clav., lxxxix. 142. You will have every blackguard and vaut-rien in the world claiming his share.
β. 1868. M. Collins, Sweet Anne Page, II. 118. Leaving her to be slowly murdered by the vaurien who possesses her.
1874. Lisle Carr, Jud. Gwynne, II. vii. 189. When that vaurien St. Clair’s health broke down.
1885. Diary Actress, viii. 133. They are only vauriens who loaf about town and dine at any one’s expense, not men of honour, or men that a good woman would care to marry.
