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John of Gaunt

noun

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]

noun

John of. John of Gaunt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for john of gaunt

John of Gaunt

noun

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

Word Origin for John of Gaunt

Gaunt, variant of Ghent, where he was born

gaunt

adjective

bony and emaciated in appearance
(of places) bleak or desolate
Derived Formsgauntly, adverbgauntness, noun

Word Origin for gaunt

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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].

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper