1663. Dryden, The Wild Gallant [Title.]
1690. B. E., A New Dict. Gallant a very fine man; also a Man of Metal, or a brave Fellow; also one that Courts, or keeps, or is Kept by, a Mistress.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., iv., 110 There’s never a gallant but sat at her hand.
1751–4. Jortin, Eccles. Hist. (quoted in Encyclopædic Dict.). As to Theodora, they who had been her gallants when she was an actress, related that dæmons, or nocturnal spirits, had often driven them away to lie with her themselves.
Adj. (old).—(1). Valiant (2) showy; (3) amorous.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., i., 40. O London is a fine town, and a gallant city.
Verb. (old).—To sweetheart; to squire; to escort; to pursue or to enjoy.
To Gallant a Fan. verb. phr. (old).—To break with design, to afford an opportunity of presenting a better.—B. E. (1690).
Gallant Fiftieth, subs. phr. (military).—The Fiftieth Foot. [For its share in Vimiera, 1808.] Also, blind half hundred (q.v.); and dirty half hundred (q.v.).
Gallantry, subs. (1). Sparkishness (q.v.); dandyism; (2) the habit, or pursuit, of the sexual favour. A life of gallantry = a life devoted to the other sex. [[103]]