gallant

[ adjective gal-uhnt for 1, 3, 4; guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt for 2, 5; noun guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt; verb guh-lant, -lahnt ]
See synonyms for gallant on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous: a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.

  2. exceptionally polite and attentive to others, especially to women; courtly.

  1. stately; grand: a gallant pageant.

  2. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress; magnificent.

noun
  1. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.

  2. a man exceptionally attentive to women.

  1. a stylish and dashing man.

  2. a suitor or lover.

  3. a paramour.

verb (used with object)
  1. to court or act as a lover of (a woman).

  2. to escort (a woman).

verb (used without object)
  1. to attend or pay court as a gallant.

Origin of gallant

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gala(u)nt, from Old French galant, present participle of galer “to amuse oneself, make merry,” from unattested Gallo-Romance walāre, derivative of unattested Frankish wala “good, happy”; see well1, weal1

synonym study For gallant

1. See brave.

Other words for gallant

Other words from gallant

  • gal·lant·ly, adverb
  • gal·lant·ness, noun
  • qua·si-gal·lant, adjective
  • su·per·gal·lant, adjective
  • su·per·gal·lant·ness, noun
  • un·gal·lant, adjective

Other definitions for Gallant (2 of 2)

Gallant
[ gal-uhnt ]

noun
  1. Mavis, 1922–2014, Canadian short-story writer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for gallant

gallant

adjective(ˈɡælənt)
  1. brave and high-spirited; courageous and honourable; dashing: a gallant warrior

  2. (ɡəˈlænt, ˈɡælənt) (of a man) attentive to women; chivalrous

  1. imposing; dignified; stately: a gallant ship

  2. archaic showy in dress

noun(ˈɡælənt, ɡəˈlænt) archaic
  1. a woman's lover or suitor

  2. a dashing or fashionable young man, esp one who pursues women

  1. a brave, high-spirited, or adventurous man

verb(ɡəˈlænt, ˈɡælənt) rare
  1. (when intr, usually foll by with) to court or flirt (with)

  2. (tr) to attend or escort (a woman)

Origin of gallant

1
C15: from Old French galant, from galer to make merry, from gale enjoyment, pleasure, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wela weal ²

Derived forms of gallant

  • gallantly, adverb
  • gallantness, noun

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