Factsheet
What does the word gallant mean?
There are 22 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word gallant, seven of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
gallant has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
nautical (mid 1500s) horses and riding (late 1500s) plants (late 1500s) military (late 1700s) parliament (late 1700s)
How common is the word gallant?
About 2occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word gallant pronounced?
British English
/ˈɡal(ə)nt/
GAL-uhnt
/ɡəˈlant/
guh-LANT
U.S. English
/ˈɡælənt/
GAL-uhnt
/ɡəˈlænt/
guh-LANT
Irish English
/ˈɡælənt/
See pronunciation
Where does the word gallant come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word gallant is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for gallant is from before 1439, in the writing of John Lydgate, poet and prior of Hatfield Regis.
gallant is a borrowing from French.
Etymons: French galant.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- gall, n.¹Old English–
- gall, n.²Old English–
- gall, n.³1398–
- gall, v.¹c1440–
- gall, v.²1581–
- 1625–
- gallacetophenone, n.1881–
- gallamine, n.1889–
- gallancy, n.1581
- gallanilide, n.1883–
- gallant, n. & adj.?a1439–
- gallant, v.1605–
- gallanthood, n.1881–
- gallantify, v.1672
- gallanting, n.1664–
- gallanting, adj.1668–
- gallantise, n.?1510–1605
- gallantish, adj.1675–
- gallantissimo, n.1675–81
- gallantize, v.1603–
- gallantly, adv.1526–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Meaning & use
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Pronunciation
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Forms
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Frequency
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Compounds & derived words
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
