gallivant

or gal·a·vant

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

See more synonyms for gallivant on Thesaurus.com

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

Related Words for gallivant

traipse, ramble, stray, cruise, range, jaunt, rove, roam, meander, wander, mooch

Examples from the Web for gallivant

Historical Examples of gallivant

In the mean time, Mr. Gallivant had returned to his law office.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York
Lemuel Ely Quigg
The next day Mr. Gallivant was at his office bright and early.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York
Lemuel Ely Quigg
In an instant Mr. Gallivant was all repose—all serenity and ease.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York
Lemuel Ely Quigg
In fact, what he wanted her to do, he said, was to gallivant—to gallivant all day long.
Miss Billy Married
Eleanor H. Porter
She's needed here and ain't got no call to gallivant off to New York and beyont with a strange man, beauty or no beauty.
Rose of Old Harpeth
Maria Thompson Daviess

British Dictionary definitions for gallivant

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 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]