panache

[ puh-nash, -nahsh ]

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.

panache

/ -ˈnɑːʃ; pəˈnæʃ /

noun

1. a dashing manner; style; swagger

   he rides with panache

2. a feathered plume on a helmet

Word History and Origins

Origin of panache¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of panache¹

C16: via French from Old Italian pennacchio, from Late Latin pinnāculum feather, from Latin pinna feather; compare Latin pinnāculum pinnacle

Example Sentences

They love to see races won with panache, which basically means our gut instinct.

From MIT Technology Review

Its young front line ran hard at the Azzurri, harrying hardened defenders with speed and, yes, panache.

From The Daily Beast

To give the sculpture more panache, he added churning waves using twisting text on the following page.

From The Daily Beast

We can only hope the newest Holy See picks a name with a bit more panache than his recent counterparts.

From The Daily Beast

But none have become sprawling disasters with quite as much panache as Hanford.

From The Daily Beast

The clothes were hideous and without an ounce of panache or style between them.

From The Daily Beast

The ear-flaps are hinged at the sides, and at the base of the skull is fixed the Panache, or plume-holder.

From Project Gutenberg

On his head was a panache of plumes of the royal green, waving gracefully in the light breeze.

From Project Gutenberg

She sat down, and expected every moment to see Mlle. Panache and her daughter make their appearance; but she waited in vain.

From Project Gutenberg

At length the door opened, and Mlle. Panache, in a riding habit, made her appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a female, and she bore upon her head a most gorgeous headdress of feathers, called a Panache.

From Project Gutenberg