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jaunty

[ jawn-tee, jahn- ]
/ ˈdʒɔn ti, ˈdʒɑn- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR jaunty

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.

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Origin of jaunty

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

OTHER WORDS FROM jaunty

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

Words nearby jaunty

jaundice, jaundiced, jaundice of newborn, jaunt, jaunting car, jaunty, jaup, Jaurès, Jav., Java, Java black rot
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to jaunty

impish, devilish, buoyant, carefree, rollicking, jolly, playful, jovial, perky, sprightly, breezy, airy, animated, bold, brash, careless, cocky, dapper, dashing, debonair

Example sentences from the Web for jaunty

British Dictionary definitions for jaunty

jaunty
/ (ˈdʒɔːntɪ) /

adjective -tier or -tiest

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

Derived forms of jaunty

jauntily, adverbjauntiness, noun

Word Origin for jaunty

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