panache

American  

[puh-nash, -nahsh] / pəˈnæʃ, -ˈnɑʃ /

noun

1. a grand or flamboyant manner; verve; style; flair.

   The actor who would play Cyrano must have panache.

2. an ornamental plume of feathers, tassels, or the like, especially one worn on a helmet or cap.

3. Architecture. the surface of a pendentive.

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panache British  

/ -ˈnɑːʃ, pəˈnæʃ /

noun

1. a dashing manner; style; swagger

   he rides with panache

2. a feathered plume on a helmet

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Etymology

Origin of panache

First recorded in 1545–55; variant (after French ) of pennache, from Middle French, from early Italian pennachio, from Late Latin pinnāculum, diminutive of pinna “wing”; identical in form with pinnāculum “roof gable, peak”; pinnacle

Example Sentences

Sokolov’s eye for visual flair brings some much-needed panache to this well-worn formula, but even his playful directorial spirit isn’t enough to shake the feeling that one has seen this film before.

From Salon

A consistently successful team, playing with panache and pace, has been bought into by the wider French public.

From BBC

He visited burrows he’d lived in from past years, but they looked worn and tired now; they lacked what Major Puff deemed “the proper puffin panache.”

From Literature

On Sunday, in blazing sunshine, Gu delivered with panache, posting a best score of 94.75 to dazzle the judges, soaring high above the lip of the halfpipe and executing her tricks with precision.

From Barron's

Last week we saw them win with panache, this week we saw them win through belligerence and character.

From BBC