Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gallantly” come from?

Gallantly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Old French galer, and Frankish wala, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to play" or "to be merry."

gallantly (English): In a gallant or gentlemanly manner; with social...

Definitions

  1. In a gallant or gentlemanly manner; with social...

Ancestry of “gallantly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishgallantbrave, valiant; honorable; grand, noble
2Middle Englishgalant—
3Old Frenchgalantpresent participle of galer; brave; noble;...
4Old Frenchgalerto rub; to scratch; to have fun; to enjoy oneself
5Old Frenchgalle—
6Latingallathe oak apple, gall-nut; a harsh, sour kind of...
7Gaulishgallāvessel
8Proto-Germanicgallǭgall, bile
9Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰelh₃-to flourish; green, yellow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- →