gallant

¹

[gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt]

adjective

1. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous.

   a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.

   Synonyms: intrepid, daring, bold, heroic, courageous, valorous

2. exceptionally polite and attentive to others, especially to women; courtly.

   Synonyms: courteous, chivalrous

3. stately; grand.

   a gallant pageant.

4. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress; magnificent.

5. amorous; amatory.

noun

1. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.

2. a man exceptionally attentive to women.

3. a stylish and dashing man.

4. a suitor or lover.

5. a paramour.

verb (used with object)

1. to court or act as a lover of (a woman).

2. to escort (a woman).

verb (used without object)

1. to attend or pay court as a gallant.

Gallant

²

[gal-uhnt]

noun

1. Mavis, 1922–2014, Canadian short-story writer.

gallant

adjective

1. brave and high-spirited; courageous and honourable; dashing

   a gallant warrior

2. (of a man) attentive to women; chivalrous

3. imposing; dignified; stately

   a gallant ship

4. archaic,  showy in dress

noun

1. a woman's lover or suitor

2. a dashing or fashionable young man, esp one who pursues women

3. a brave, high-spirited, or adventurous man

verb

1. to court or flirt (with)

2. (tr) to attend or escort (a woman)

Other Word Forms

• gallantly adverb
• gallantness noun
• quasi-gallant adjective
• supergallant adjective
• supergallantness noun
• ungallant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gala(u)nt, from Old French galant, present participle of galer “to amuse oneself, make merry,” from unattested Gallo-Romance walāre, derivative of unattested Frankish wala “good, happy”; well ¹, weal ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallant¹

C15: from Old French galant, from galer to make merry, from gale enjoyment, pleasure, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wela _weal ²

Synonym Study

See brave.

Example Sentences

Murderbot doesn’t even want to be touched, which makes its final act particularly gallant.

From Salon

"We have lost a gallant son of the soil!"

From BBC

"It's a huge honour and an immense privilege for me to serve in the Ukrainian military and be able to help the gallant and amazing Ukrainian people in any way I can," he said.

From BBC

I couldn’t help but wonder if Williams was hiding a less gallant backstory.

From Salon

Then the suspense as Daizen Maeda stood over that last kick, the big opportunity to finally put a gallant Rangers to sleep, which he took.

From BBC

Related Words

• courageous 
• courtly 
• fearless 
• gritty 
• heroic 
• honorable 
• noble 
• plucky 
• quixotic 
• valiant