jaunty

[jawn-tee, jahn-]

See more synonyms for jaunty on Thesaurus.com

adjective, jaun·ti·er, jaun·ti·est.

easy and sprightly in manner or bearing: to walk with a jaunty step.
smartly trim, as clothing: a jaunty hat.

Origin of jaunty

1655–65; earlier jentee, juntee < French gentil noble, gentle, genteel with ending taken as -y¹

Related formsjaun·ti·ly, adverbjaun·ti·ness, nounun·jaun·ty, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for jauntily

Contemporary Examples

Meanwhile, New York Magazine ran a jauntily satirical article—“Bro, Can You Spare, Like, Five Bills?”
Is There a Ma Joad for the Piketty Era?
Katie Baker
July 1, 2014
Springer jauntily replies, quickly adding that his tawdry syndicated show is probably a more accurate harbinger of the End Times.
Jerry Springer Wants His Privacy
Lloyd Grove
April 18, 2010
And let's not forget death panels, Sarah Palin's jauntily inflammatory phrase for the "Independent Medicare Advisory Board."
Health Care: A Critic's Index
Tunku Varadarajan
December 25, 2009

Historical Examples

"To me, it is a matter of perfect indifference," said I, jauntily.
A Day's Ride
Charles James Lever
"A feller's got to be in this country," he replied, jauntily.
They of the High Trails
Hamlin Garland
Sandy handed Brewer a cigar and stuck one, jauntily, in his own mouth.
The Secret of the Storm Country
Grace Miller White
All were strolling as leisurely and jauntily as only true plutocrats can afford to do.
The Rich Little Poor Boy
Eleanor Gates
“Some chaps is always thinking about going to bed,” said Bob jauntily.
Quicksilver
George Manville Fenn

British Dictionary definitions for jauntily

jaunty

adjective -tier or -tiest

sprightly, self-confident, and cheerful; briska jaunty step
smart; trima jaunty hat

Derived Formsjauntily, adverbjauntiness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from French gentil noble; see genteel

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 jauntily

jaunty

adj.

1660s, "elegant, stylish," from French gentil "nice, pleasing," in Old French "noble" (see gentle). Form reflects attempt to render the French pronunciation of gentil. Meaning "easy and sprightly in manner" first attested 1670s. Related: Jauntily; jauntiness.

jaunty

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}jaunty

Examples from the Web for jauntily

Contemporary Examples

Meanwhile, New York Magazine ran a jauntily satirical article—“Bro, Can You Spare, Like, Five Bills?”

Springer jauntily replies, quickly adding that his tawdry syndicated show is probably a more accurate harbinger of the End Times.

And let's not forget death panels, Sarah Palin's jauntily inflammatory phrase for the "Independent Medicare Advisory Board."

Historical Examples

"To me, it is a matter of perfect indifference," said I, jauntily.

"A feller's got to be in this country," he replied, jauntily.

Sandy handed Brewer a cigar and stuck one, jauntily, in his own mouth.

All were strolling as leisurely and jauntily as only true plutocrats can afford to do.

“Some chaps is always thinking about going to bed,” said Bob jauntily.

jaunty

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for jauntily

jaunty

adj.

Origin of jaunty