gallant

¹

[ adjective gal-uhnt guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt noun guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt; verb 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. ɡəˈlæntˈɡælənt (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. whenintr, usually foll by with to court or flirt (with)
2. tr to attend or escort (a woman)

Derived Forms

• ˈgallantly, adverb
• ˈgallantness, noun

Other Words From

• gal·lant·ly adverb
• gal·lant·ness noun
• qua·si-gal·lant adjective
• su·per·gal·lant adjective
• su·per·gal·lant·ness noun
• un·gal·lant 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

In May, Mr Khan said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahiya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh bore criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity from the day of Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October onwards.

From BBC

Days after being fired earlier this week, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting a peace deal against the advice of his security chiefs.

From BBC

Gallant has vastly more military experience than Netanyahu.

From BBC

But compared to Gallant, Katz has virtually no military experience.

From BBC

The cabinet has now lost the last remaining minister who was willing and able to confront Netanyahu, another likely reason Gallant was shown the door.

From BBC

Related Words

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