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Added 9 October 2026

gallant

/ˈɡælənt/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gallant at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance.
A man who attends or escorts a woman.

adjective

Unflinching in battle or action.
a gallant warrior
Lively and spirited.
a dashing hero
Having or displaying great dignity or nobility.
a gallant pageant

Origin

From Middle English galant, galaunt, from Old French galant (“courteous; dashing; brave”), present participle of galer (“to rejoice; make merry”), from gale (“pomp; show; festivity; mirth”); either from Frankish *wala (“good, well”), a variant form of *wela, from Proto-Germanic *wela (whence well), from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“to choose, wish”); or alternatively from Frankish *gail (“merry; mirthful; proud; luxuriant”), from Proto-Germanic *gailaz (“merry; excited; luxurious”), related to Dutch geil (“horny; lascivious; salacious; lecherous”), German geil (“randy; horny; lecherous; wicked”), Old English gāl (“wanton; wicked; bad”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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