Word of the Day for Wednesday, July 4, 2012

gallant \GAL-uhnt\, adjective:

1. Brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous: a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.
2. Exceptionally polite and attentive to women; courtly.
3. Stately; grand: a gallant pageant.

noun:
1. A brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.
2. A man exceptionally attentive to women.
3. A stylish and dashing man.

He praised the owl's wisdom and his courage, his gallantry and his generosity; though every one knew that however wise old Master Owl might be, he was neither brave nor gallant.
-- Frances Jenkins Olcott, "Good Stories For Holidays"

Oh, those were days of power, gallant days, bustling days, worth the bravest days of chivalry at least.
-- George Borrow, "Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest"

Related to the word gala, gallant stems from the Old French word galer meaning "to amuse oneself, to make merry."

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