HAMLET, HAMEL, or Hampel, (from the Saxon Ham, i. e. Domus, and the German Lett, i. e. Membrum), signifies a little village, or part of a village or parish; of which three words the first is now only used, tho' Kitchen mentions the two last. By Spelman there is a difference between villam integrum, villam dimidium, and hamletam; and Stowe expounds it to be the seat of a freeholder. Several county-towns have hamlets, as there may be several hamlets in a parish; and some particular places may be out of a town or hamlet, though not out of the county.