dial. and U.S. Also varmant, -munt, verment, warment, -mint, etc. [var. of varmin VERMIN, with excrescent -t. Rare before c. 1825.]
1. a. collect. Vermin. b. An animal of a noxious or objectionable kind.
A large collection of American examples is given by Thornton, Amer. Gloss. (1912), s.v.
α. 1539. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. II. 148. Let me not be utterly caste away here in prysson, remayening fwll of varment which cawsythe me to hawe no lyste of meytte nor dryncke.
1689. Husnance, Monitor, Ep. Ded. For many who smell like a Kirkish Verment, Can now, Sir, put on a Lamb-like garment.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Wds., Varment, vermin, not always confined to the verminous class of animals, but extended to any annoying or troublesome ones.
1828. J. Hall, Lett. fr. West, 297. He gave his foe [a bear-cub] a mortal shot, or to use his own language, ‘I burst the varment.’
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, xxiii. ‘These beavers,’ said he, ‘…are the knowingest varment as I know.’
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Varment, vermin.
β. 1829. Sporting Mag. (N.S.), XXIII. 242. Some of the followers of the gallant varmint.
1846. T. B. Thorpe, Backwoods, 166. The idea of a ‘man’s keeping two varmints in a grass, when he might shoot a dozen by going a little way into the woods.’ These ‘varmints’ were two beautiful deer.
1883. Pennell-Elmhirst, Cream Leicestersh., 154. Meanwhile the varmint had stolen on in his struggle for Tilton Wood and life.
1889. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 25 Oct., 2/3. The granger came out with his rifle and shot the varmint [a panther].
2. An objectionable or troublesome person or persons; a mischievous boy or child.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., V. 92. The poor beasts have smoaked for it: Rabbet me, but I’d rather ride forty miles after a fox, than ten with such varment.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Varment, Verment,… also a term of reproach, particularly to a child.
1845. C. H. J. Anderson, Swedish Brothers, 8. That little varmint Nettop has tickled his heels for him.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. iv. ‘I’ve got the young varmint at last, have I,’ pants the farmer.
1859. Slang Dict., 114. ‘You young varment, you!’ you bad or naughty boy.
