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(Zoöl.), 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(Zoöl.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.