Definitions for: Gallant


[n] a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
[n] a man who attends or escorts a woman
[adj] unflinching in battle or action; "a gallant warrior"; "put up a gallant resistance to the attackers"
[adj] having the qualities of gallantry attributed to an ideal knight
[adj] having or displaying great dignity or nobility; "a gallant pageant"; "lofty ships"; "majestic cities"; "proud alpine peaks"
[adj] lively and spirited; "a dashing hero"



Webster (1913) Definition: Gal"lant, a. [F. gallant, prop. p. pr. of OF. galer to
rejoice, akin to OF. gale amusement, It. gala ornament; of
German origin; cf. OHG. geil merry, luxuriant, wanton, G.
geil lascivious, akin to AS. g?l wanton, wicked, OS. g?l
merry, Goth. gailjan to make to rejoice, or perh. akin to E.
weal. See Gala, Galloon.]
1. Showy; splendid; magnificent; gay; well-dressed.

The town is built in a very gallant place. --Evelyn.

Our royal, good and gallant ship. --Shak.

2. Noble in bearing or spirit; brave; high-spirited;
courageous; heroic; magnanimous; as, a gallant youth; a
gallant officer.

That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. --Shak.

The gay, the wise, the gallant, and the grave.
--Waller.

Syn: Gallant, Courageous, Brave.

Usage: Courageous is generic, denoting an inward spirit which
rises above fear; brave is more outward, marking a
spirit which braves or defies danger; gallant rises
still higher, denoting bravery on extraordinary
occasions in a spirit of adventure. A courageous man
is ready for battle; a brave man courts it; a gallant
man dashes into the midst of the conflict.


Gal*lant" (?; 277), a.
Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women;
chivalrous.


Gal*lant" (?; 277), n.
1. A man of mettle or spirit; a gay; fashionable man; a young
blood. --Shak.

2. One fond of paying attention to ladies.

3. One who wooes; a lover; a suitor; in a bad sense, a
seducer. --Addison.

Note: In the first sense it is by some ortho["e]pists (as in
Shakespeare) accented on the first syllable.


Gal*lant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gallanted; p. pr. &
vb. n. Gallanting.]
1. To attend or wait on, as a lady; as, to gallant ladies to
the play.

2. To handle with grace or in a modish manner; as, to gallant
a fan. [Obs.] --Addison.

Synonyms: beau, brave, chivalrous, clotheshorse, courageous, courteous, dandy, dashing, dude, fashion plate, fearless, fop, impressive, knightly, lofty, majestic, proud, sheik, spirited, squire, swell

See Also: adult male, attendant, attender, Beau Brummell, Brummell, cockscomb, coxcomb, George Bryan Brummell, man, tender

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