Allan-a-Dale

American

[al-uhn-uh-dayl] / ˌæl ən əˈdeɪl /

Or Alan-a-Dale

noun

(in English balladry) a member of Robin Hood's band who carried off his sweetheart just before she was to be forced into marriage with an aged knight.

Allan-a-Dale British

/ ˌælənəˈdeɪl /

noun

(in English balladry) a member of Robin Hood's band who saved his sweetheart from an enforced marriage and married her himself

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Allan-a-Dale

But Will Scarlet and Allan-a-Dale had foreseen that event, and had already overpowered the two warders.

From Robin Hood by J. Walker (Joseph Walker) McSpadden

"What will you give me, Allan-a-Dale," said Robin Hood, "in ready gold or fee, to help you to your true love again, and deliver her back unto you?"

From Robin Hood by J. Walker (Joseph Walker) McSpadden

Then came Allan-a-Dale and Little John and Stutely and Scarlet and many of the rest, while the knight held his breath from very amazement.

From Robin Hood by J. Walker (Joseph Walker) McSpadden

"It is impossible that Allan-a-Dale can have thus treated a man of your reverend bearing," replied the Captain.

From Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Allan-a-Dale could pick a pocket or cut a purse, accomplishments in which I am altogether deficient.

From Ayala's Angel by Anthony Trollope

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023