Allan-a-Dale

American

[al-uhn-uh-deyl] / ˌæl ən əˈdeɪl /

Or Alan-a-Dale

noun

(in English balladry) a member of Robin Hood's band who carried off his sweetheart just before she was to be forced into marriage with an aged knight.

Allan-a-Dale British

/ ˌælənəˈdeɪl /

noun

(in English balladry) a member of Robin Hood's band who saved his sweetheart from an enforced marriage and married her himself

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"By the faith of my body," replied the young man, "my name is Allan-a-Dale."

From Robin Hood by McSpadden, J. Walker (Joseph Walker)

"Then you, if any one, can aid me!" said Allan-a-Dale eagerly.

From Robin Hood by McSpadden, J. Walker (Joseph Walker)

"Will you marry me, dear heart?" pleaded Allan-a-Dale.

From Robin Hood by Wyeth, N. C. (Newell Convers)

"Know then, happy stranger, that I have lost my dear, and through no fault of mine own," said Allan-a-Dale, as they walked together.

From Robin Hood by Wyeth, N. C. (Newell Convers)

Allan-a-Dale, one of Robin Hood's men, introduced by sir W. Scott in Ivanhoe.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023