From French 'laquais' (footman), of disputed Mediterranean origin — possibly Arabic for slave, filtered through Spanish and Catalan.
A servant, especially a liveried footman; a person who is obsequiously willing to obey.
From French 'laquais' (footman), probably from Catalan 'alacay' or Spanish 'lacayo,' possibly from Arabic 'laqīy' (a slave). The exact origin is debated, but the word traveled through multiple languages across the Mediterranean. Key roots: laquais (French: "footman").
'Lackey' bounced through at least four languages before reaching English — possibly Arabic to Spanish to Catalan to French to English. Its exact origin is a mystery that linguists still argue about. What's certain is that every culture along its path used it to mean 'someone who does what they're told,' making the word itself a kind of lackey, serving whichever language claimed it.