▪ I. galliard, a. and n.1
(ˈgælɪəd)
Forms: 4–9 gaillard(e, gal(l)yard(e, 5–9 galiard(e, 5–6 galȝart, 6 galyeard (galȝard, galȝeard, gagliard), 6– galliard.
[ad. OF. and F. gaillard, -art (mod.F. gaillard) = Pr. galhart, Sp., gallardo, Pg. galhardo, It. gagliardo adj., of unknown origin: for the suffix see -ard. The n. B 2, 3, is a. F. gaillarde, properly the fem. of the adj.]
A. adj.
1. Valiant, hardy, ‘stout’, sturdy. Obs. exc. arch.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1265 Sir Gawayne and syr Gryme, these galyarde knyghtez. c 1450 Holland Howlat 540 Mony galiard gome was on the ground levit. 1535 Let. in Froude Hist. Eng. II. 299 There was a galiard assault given before five o'clock in the morning. 1536 Rem. Sedition 2 a, He [Sertorius] had also two horses, thone galyarde, lusty, and of a thycke tayle. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres iii. ii. 46 It doth much import that the front be gaillard and strong. 1650 Howell Giraffi's Rev. Naples 130 And it was held convenient by all to com to som galliard resolution. 1862 H. Marryat Year in Sweden II. 241 We pass by gutted towers, four stories high, with machicolations fresh as yesterday—gaillard and daring. |
2. Lively, brisk, gay, full of high spirits. arch.
| c 1386 Chaucer Cook's T. 3 Gaillard he was as Goldfinch in the shawe. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 785 Amang their Galȝart Gromis I am bot ane Gest. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. Prol. 31 The galiart grum grunschis at grammis hym greuis. 1652 Evelyn State France Misc. Writ. (1805) 92 There lives not..a more frank, galiard, and supine people. 1671 Shadwell Humorist ii. Wks. 1720 I. 172 Come, Madam, let's be frolick, galliard, and extraordinary brisk. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 176 The faemen grew galyard now, and crouse ilk ane. 1820 Byron Mar. Fal. i. i. 21 Steno's a patrician, Young, galliard, gay, and haughty. 1835 W. Irving Crayon Misc. (1849) 20 A young Swiss Count..galliard in the extreme, and prone to every kind of wild adventure. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. ii. 194 These wretched Comparini were once gay And galiard, of the modest middle class. |
† 3. Having a gay appearance, spruce. Obs.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xii. Prol. 150 Ane paradice it semyt to draw neyr Thyr galȝart gardyngis and ilke greyn herbere. 1599 Jas. I βασιλ. Δωρον (1603) 112 Faile neuer in time of warres to be galliardest and brauest, both in cloathes and countenance. a 1605 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xiii. 25 Love maks men galȝard in thair geir. |
B. n.
1. † a. A man of courage and spirit (obs.). b. A gay fellow; a man of fashion (arch.).
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 552/2 When the rage is ones passed, then rise up like lusty galiardes agayn, and fight a freshe. a 1658 Cleveland Mixt Assembly 87 Selden hee's a Galliard by himself. 1768 W. Donaldson Sir Barth. Sapskull II. 218 My fame..made my name famous among the gaillards of the town. 1828 [see galliardise]. 1854 Mrs. Oliphant Magd. Hepburn i. 296 God and the truth dwell not among galliards and gay companie. |
2. A quick and lively dance in triple time. Hist.
| 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1539) 50 b, Vehement exercise is compounde of violent exercise and swifte whan they ar ioyned togither at one tyme, as dansyng of galyardes. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 66 Dansand base dansis, pauans, galȝardis, turdions, braulis, and branglis. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. i. iii. 137 Why dost thou not goe to Church in a Galliard, and come home in a Carranto? 1656 Heylin Surv. France 2 Nothing but a nimble galliard filled with capers. 1746 W. Thompson Hymn to May xlvi. 3 In the nimble-footed galliard, all, Shepherds and shepherdesses, lively, join. 1808 Scott Marm. v. xii, Never a hall such a galliard did grace. 1849 Sir J. Stephen Eccl. Biog. (1850) I. 157 Whether the lute should breathe a summons to the gaillard, or the trumpet ring out an alarm to the battle [etc.]. |
† 3. The air to which the galliard was danced. Obs.
| 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 39 Whether these..galiardes..be lyker the musike of the Lydians or the Dorians, you that be learned iudge. 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 181 How manie foures of semibreues you put in the straine of your pauan, so many times sixe minimes must you put in the straine of your galliard. a 1613 Overbury A Wife (1638) 89 He whistles his owne Galliard. 1789 Burney Hist. Mus. III. i. 87 This strain was usually followed by the Galliard. |
| attrib. 1626 Bacon Sylva §113 As when Galliard Time, and Measure Time, are in the Medly of one Dance. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. i. x. 33 The Imperfect of the More..is much used in Airy Songs and Galiards, and is usually called Galiard or Triple Time. |
Hence † ˈgalliardly adv., † ˈgalliardness.
| 1542 St. Papers Hen. VIII (1830) I. 736 He..went galyardly to the matyer. 1550 Nicolls Thucyd. 222 b, They saylled and gouernedde their shyppes more galiardly than the othere. 1653 Z. Bogan Mirth Chr. Life 30 How galliardly does the prophet cry out. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. vi. & vii. 206 His sprightfull pleasance and galliardnesse abated. |
▪ II. galliard, n.2 Geol.
(ˈgælɪəd)
[Of unknown origin.]
(See quots.)
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 531 Galliard, a North of England term for a hard, smooth, flinty grit. 1877 A. H. Green Phys. Geol. ii. §6. 68 Very siliceous Sandstones with an even close grain are called Cank, Cankstone, or Galliard. |