galavant

[gal-uh-vant, gal-uh-vant]

verb (used without object)

gallivant.

gallivant

or gal·a·vant

[gal-uh-vant, gal-uh-vant]

verb (used without object)

to wander about, seeking pleasure or diversion; gad.
to go about with members of the opposite sex.

Origin of gallivant

First recorded in 1815–25; perhaps fanciful alteration of gallant

Related formsgal·li·vant·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for galavanting

Historical Examples of galavanting

Your father and your uncle Asa and Bill off galavanting around and fighting when they ought to be protecting their home!
The Little Regiment
Stephen Crane
This is a fine thing, this is, keeping me watching and waiting these hours, while you have been galavanting—ah!
Talkers
John Bate

British Dictionary definitions for galavanting

gallivant

galivant or galavant

verb

(intr) to go about in search of pleasure; gad about

Word Origin for gallivant

C19: perhaps whimsical modification of gallant

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

Word Origin and History for galavanting

gallivant

1809, probably a playful elaboration of gallant in an obsolete verbal sense of "play the gallant, flirt, gad about." Related: Gallivanted; gallivanting.

Young Lobski said to his ugly wife,
"I'm off till to-morrow to fish, my life;"
Says Mrs. Lobski, "I'm sure you a'nt",
But you brute you are going to gallivant."

What Mrs. Lobski said was right,
Gay Mr. Lobski was out all night.
He ne'er went to fish, 'tis known very well
But where he went I shall not tell.

["Songs from the Exile," in "Literary Panorama," London, 1809]

galavant

variant of gallivant. Related: Galavanted; galavanting.