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gal·lant (gălənt)
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adj.
1. Smartly or boldly stylish; dashing: a gallant feathered hat; cut a gallant figure at the coronation.
2.
a. Unflinching in battle or action; valiant: put up a gallant resistance to the attackers.
b. Nobly or selflessly resolute: made a gallant attempt to save her friend's reputation.
3. Stately; majestic: a gallant ship.
4.
a. Courteously attentive especially to women; chivalrous.
b. Flirtatious; amorous.
n. (gə-lănt, -länt, gălənt)
1. A fashionable young man.
2.
a. A man courteously attentive to women.
b. A male lover, especially one who is courteously attentive.
v. (gə-lănt, -länt) gal·lant·ed, gal·lant·ing, gal·lants
v.tr.
To woo or pay court to (a lady).
v.intr.
To play the gallant.
[Middle English galaunt, from Old French galant, present participle of galer, to rejoice, of Germanic origin; see wel-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
gallant·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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