gallant

/ˈga-lənt/

Middle English galaunt, borrowed from Middle French galant, from present participle of galer "to squander in pleasures, have a good time, enjoy oneself," going back to Old French, going back to Gallo-Romance *walāre, derivative of Old Low Franconian *wala "well, with good appearance or effect," going back to Germanic *welō

adjective

  1. showy in dress or bearing : smart

  2. splendid, stately

  3. spirited, brave

civil polite courteous gallant chivalrous mean observant of the forms required by good breeding. civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness. polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

noun

  1. a young man of fashion

  2. ladies' man

  3. suitor

verb

  1. to pay court to (a lady) : attend

  2. to manipulate (a fan) in a modish manner

  3. to pay court to ladies

used to gallant her in his youth