gallant

UK: /ˈgælənt/

US: /ˈgælənt for 1, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgælənt for 2/

US: (adj. gal′ənt for 1, 3, 4; gə lant′, -länt′, gal′ənt for 2, 5; n. gə lant′, -länt′, gal′ənt; v. gə lant′, -länt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

gal•lant /ˈgælənt for 1., gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgælənt for 2.    adj. 

1. brave, heroic, spirited, or noble-minded:
   a gallant knight.
2. exceptionally polite and attentive to women;
   chivalrous.

gal•lant•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gal•lant  (adj. gal′ənt for 1, 3, 4; gə lant′, -länt′, gal′ənt for 2, 5;
n. gə lant′, -länt′, gal′ənt;
v. gə lant′, -länt′), adj. 

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.
4. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress;
   magnificent.
5. amorous;
   amatory.

n. 

6. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.
7. a man exceptionally attentive to women.
8. a stylish and dashing man.
9. a suitor or lover.
10. a paramour.

v.t. 

11. to court or act as a lover of (a woman).
12. to escort (a woman).

v.i. 

13. to attend or pay court as a gallant.

• Gallo Romance *walāre, derivative of Frankish *wala good, happy; see well¹, weal¹
• Old French galant, present participle of galer to amuse oneself, make merry
• Middle English gala(u)nt 1350–1400

gal′lant•ly, adv. 
gal′lant•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. valorous, courageous, heroic, bold, daring, intrepid. See brave. 
• 2. chivalrous, courteous.

Gal•lant  (gal′ənt), n. 

1. Biographical Mavis, born 1922, Canadian short-story writer.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gallant adjective / ˈɡælənt/

1. brave and high-spirited; courageous and honourable; dashing: a gallant warrior
2. / ɡəˈlænt ˈɡælənt/ (of a man) attentive to women; chivalrous
3. imposing; dignified; stately: a gallant ship
4. showy in dress

noun / ˈɡælənt ɡəˈlænt/

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 / ɡəˈlænt ˈɡælənt/

1. when intr, usually followed by with: to court or flirt (with)
2. (transitive) to attend or escort (a woman)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French galant, from galer to make merry, from gale enjoyment, pleasure, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wela weal²

ˈgallantly adverb

ˈgallantness noun