Lack"ey (?), n.; pl. Lackeys (#). [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E.lick, v.]
An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.
Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
Shak.
Lackey caterpillar Zool., the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called from its party-colored markings. The common European species (C. neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species (C. Americana and C. sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar,under Tent.
-- Lackey moth Zool., the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.
© Webster 1913.
Lack"ey, v. t.
To attend as a lackey; to wait upon.
A thousand liveried angels lackey her.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.
Lack"ey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lackeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lackeying.]
To act or serve as lackey; to pay servile attendance.
© Webster 1913.