from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lackey \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.
[1913 Webster]
Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
{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 ({Clisiocampa neustria}) is striped with blue,
yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The
American species ({Clisiocampa Americana} and {Clisiocampa
sylvatica}) are commonly called {tent caterpillars}. See
{Tent caterpillar}, under {Tent}.
{Lackey moth} (Zool.), the moth which produces the lackey
caterpillar.
[1913 Webster]