| Cavalier | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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 ] |
| Cavalier | 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 ] |
