The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hamlet \Ham"let\ (h[a^]m"l[e^]t), n. [OE. hamelet, OF. hamelet,
   dim. of hamel, F. hameau, LL. hamellum, a dim. of German
   origin; cf. G. heim home. [root]220. See Home.]
   A small village; a little cluster of houses in the country.
   [1913 Webster]

         The country wasted, and the hamlets burned. --Dryden.

   Syn: Village; neighborhood. See Village.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hamlet
    n 1: a community of people smaller than a village [syn:
         hamlet, crossroads]
    2: the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who hoped to avenge
       the murder of his father
    3: a settlement smaller than a town [syn: village, hamlet]