From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cavalier \Cav`a*lier"\ (k[a^]v`[.a]*l[=e]r"), n. [F. cavalier,
It. cavaliere, LL. caballarius, fr. L. caballus. See
{Cavalcade}, and cf. {Chevalier}, {Caballine}.]
1. A military man serving on horseback; a knight.
[1913 Webster]
2. A gay, sprightly, military man; hence, a gallant.
[1913 Webster]
3. One of the court party in the time of king Charles I. as
contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament.
--Clarendon.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Fort.) A work of more than ordinary height, rising from
the level ground of a bastion, etc., and overlooking
surrounding parts.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cavalier \Cav`a*lier"\, a.
offhand; unceremonious; gay; easy; frank. Opposed to
{serious}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
The plodding, persevering scupulous accuracy of the
one, and the easy, cavalier, verbal fluency of the
other, form a complete contrast. --Hazlitt.
[1913 Webster]
2. High-spirited. [Obs.] "The people are naturally not
valiant, and not much cavalier." --Suckling.
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3. Supercilious; haughty; disdainful; curt; brusque.
[1913 Webster]
4. Of or pertaining to the party of King Charles I. "An old
Cavalier family." --Beaconsfield.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
cavalier
adj 1: given to haughty disregard of others [syn: {cavalier},
{high-handed}]
n 1: a gallant or courtly gentleman [syn: {cavalier},
{chevalier}]
2: a royalist supporter of Charles I during the English Civil
War [syn: {Cavalier}, {Royalist}]
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