galliard
Americannoun
noun
-
a spirited dance in triple time for two persons, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries
-
a piece of music composed for this dance
adjective
Etymology
Origin of galliard
1525–35; < Middle French gaillard, noun use of adj.: lively, vigorous (> Middle English gaillard, late Middle English galyarde ), probably < Gallo-Romance *galia < Celtic (compare MIr gal warlike ardor, valor); see -ard
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.
A fantasia and a pavan and galliard by William Byrd were riveting.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 15, 2017
The queen was delighted with the little dwarf, and made him dance a galliard on her left hand.
From Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England by Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard)
With these words the galliard little curate mounted his donkey, thumped his ribs with the butt end of his gun, and trotted off to the hills.
From The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (Volume II) by Irving, Washington
Why, my lord, He told me of a resty Barbary horse Which he would fain have brought to the career, The sault, and the ring galliard: now, my lord, I have a rare French rider.
From The White Devil by Webster, John
Will dancing serve, and I will dance, until my bones be sore, Pipe us up a galliard, minstrel, to begin.
From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2 by Hazlitt, William Carew
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
