John of Gaunt
- Duke of Lancaster, 1340–99, English soldier and statesman: fourth son of Edward III; founder of the royal house of Lancaster (father of Henry IV of England).
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Gaunt
[gawnt, gahnt]
- John of. John of Gaunt.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
John of Gaunt
- Duke of Lancaster. 1340–99, son of Edward III: virtual ruler of England during the last years of his father's reign and during Richard II's minority
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Word Origin
Gaunt, variant of Ghent, where he was born
gaunt
- bony and emaciated in appearance
- (of places) bleak or desolate
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Word Origin
C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect gand tall lean person
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for john of gaunt
gaunt
adj.
mid-15c. (as a surname from mid-13c.), from Middle French gant, of uncertain origin; perhaps from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse gand "a thin stick," also "a tall thin man") and somehow connected with the root of gander. Connection also has been suggested to Old French jaunet "yellowish" [Middle English Dictionary].
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper