gallant
GAL-unt
/ˈɡæl.ənt/
Brave, heroic, or exceptionally polite and attentive toward others.
Combines martial bravery with chivalry, courtesy, and dashing charm.
The story behind the word. Came into English from Old French 'galant', from 'galer' (to make merry). It shifted from describing a lively partygoer to a courtly knight who combined bravado with refined manners.
Word relationships
- chivalrous: Chivalrous focuses heavily on courteous treatment of others, while gallant balances chivalry with active bravery.
- valiant: Valiant stresses noble bravery; gallant adds courtly polish.
- churlish: Rude and lacking grace.
- cowardly: Lacking courage.
Commonly confused with
- gala: A gala is a festive celebration, derived from the same Old French root gale (pleasure/mirth).
Word family
- gallantry (noun): heroic courage or polite attention
- gallantly (adverb): in a gallant manner
Collocations
- gallant effort
- gallant defender
- gallant knight
Example sentences
- "The crew made a gallant rescue effort to pull sailors from the stormy seas." Rescue operation
- "He offered a gallant bow and escorted the guest to her carriage." Courtesies
Memory hook
GALLANT = GALLOPING KNIGHT. A knight galloping in armor with noble manners. Courage with a courteous smile.
When not to use
Do not use for crude, unrefined, or purely aggressive acts.
Fun facts
- Historically, placing stress on the second syllable (gal-LANT) denoted a romantic suitor, whereas stress on the first syllable (GAL-lant) meant brave.
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