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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Gallant \Gal"lant\ (g[a^]l"lant), a. [F. gallant, prop. p. pr.
of OF. galer to rejoice, akin to OF. gale amusement, It. gala
ornament; of German origin; cf. OHG. geil merry, luxuriant,
wanton, G. geil lascivious, akin to AS. g[=a]l wanton,
wicked, OS. g[=e]l merry, Goth. gailjan to make to rejoice,
or perh. akin to E. weal. See {Gala}, {Galloon}.]
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1. Showy; splendid; magnificent; gay; well-dressed.
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The town is built in a very gallant place. --Evelyn.
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Our royal, good and gallant ship. --Shak.
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2. Noble in bearing or spirit; brave; high-spirited;
courageous; heroic; magnanimous; as, a gallant youth; a
gallant officer.
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That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. --Shak.
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The gay, the wise, the gallant, and the grave.
--Waller.

Syn: {Gallant}, {Courageous}, {Brave}.

Usage: Courageous is generic, denoting an inward spirit which
rises above fear; brave is more outward, marking a
spirit which braves or defies danger; gallant rises
still higher, denoting bravery on extraordinary
occasions in a spirit of adventure. A courageous man
is ready for battle; a brave man courts it; a gallant
man dashes into the midst of the conflict.
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Gallant \Gal*lant"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gallanted}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Gallanting}.]
1. To attend or wait on, as a lady; as, to gallant ladies to
the play.
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2. To handle with grace or in a modish manner; as, to gallant
a fan. [Obs.] --Addison.
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Gallant \Gal*lant"\ (?; 277), a.
Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women;
chivalrous.
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Gallant \Gal*lant"\ (?; 277), n.
1. A man of mettle or spirit; a gay, fashionable man; a young
blood. --Shak.
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2. One fond of paying attention to ladies.
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3. One who wooes; a lover; a suitor; in a bad sense, a
seducer. --Addison.
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Note: In the first sense it is by some ortho["e]pists (as in
Shakespeare) accented on the first syllable.
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