1 galliard | Definition of galliard

galliard

adjective
gal·​liard | \ ˈgal-yərd How to pronounce galliard (audio) \

Definition of galliard

 (Entry 1 of 2)

archaic
: gay, lively

galliard

noun

Definition of galliard (Entry 2 of 2)

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

First Known Use of galliard

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for galliard

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)

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More from Merriam-Webster on galliard

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with galliard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about galliard