galliard

1 of 2

adjective

gal·liard ˈgal-yərd

archaic

: gay, lively

galliard

2 of 2

noun

: a sprightly dance with five steps to a phrase popular in the 16th and 17th centuries

Examples of galliard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Noun

At the end of the ceremony, Paris and Théo performed a galliard—a dance from the Renaissance era—as their recessional. —

Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English gaylard, galyarde, gaillard "brave, strong, lively, gay," borrowed from Anglo-French gaillard "vigorous, lively" (continental Old French also, "courageous"), probably from a Gallo-Romance base *galy- (going back to Celtic *gal-, in Old Irish gal "ardor in battle, valor," Welsh gallu "to be able to, can" Breton gallout, going back to Indo-European *gelH- "gain power (over)," also in Lithuanian galė́ti "to be able to") + Old French -ard -ard

Noun

noun derivative of galliard entry 1 (probably after Italian gagliarda or Middle French gaillarde)

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of galliard was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Galliard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galliard. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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galliard

adjective

noun

Examples of galliard in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near galliard

Cite this Entry