Gawain

American  

[gah-win, gaw-] / ˈgɑ wɪn, ˈgɔ- /

noun

1. Arthurian Legend. one of the knights of the Round Table: a nephew of King Arthur.

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Etymology

Origin of Gawain

From Old French Gauvain, Gavain, from Medieval Latin Galvaginus, Gwalguanus, often considered to be a corruption of Welsh Gwalchmei, perhaps from gwalch “hawk” ( Galahad ( def. ) ) and a second element of uncertain origin, possibly either maes “field” + Mai May ( def. )

Example Sentences

The death of King Arthur is caused by a blood feud between two of his foremost knights, Lancelot and Gawain, who had once been close friends.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

The party is keen to get away from the idea that it is a one-man-band - or "the Nigel show", as long-time Farage ally Gawain Towler puts it.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2025

Valeska Paris and husband and wife Gawain and Laura Baxter, who filed the complaint in April, left the church’s military-style workforce called the Sea Org in 2009 and 2012, respectively.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2022

Set in the England of King Arthur’s reign, the film stars Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, who takes up a challenge posed by another knight of mysterious origin.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2022

"This is actually a rare and valuable artifact passed down for generations. Lancelot used it, so did Sir Gawain, and for a time the Black Knight kept it on a chain next to his heart."

From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick