(Whip and Cambridge.) Natty, dashing. He is quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment hat, coat, &c.; he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu.
Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
varlets * vaulting schoolNathan Bailey's 1721 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang
John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes