What does gallantry mean?
Word: Gallantry
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Gallantry means great bravery, especially when facing danger to help others. It can also mean polite, courteous behaviour, especially by a man towards a woman.
Synonyms: bravery, courage, valour, heroism
How do you spell gallantry?
Syllables: gal - lant - ry
Tricky part: The middle is -ant, not -ent: the word grows from gallant, an older word for brave.
Watch out for: gallentry, galentry, gallantary
Memory tip: Picture a gallant ant carrying a crumb ten times its size: the ant sits in the middle of gallantry.
Gallantry in a sentence
Example 1: The soldier received a medal for gallantry.
Example 2: The villagers praised the boatman's gallantry during the floods, when he ferried families to safety.
Example 3: Stories of the Rani of Jhansi's gallantry are told in every Indian school.
Fun Fact
India announces its gallantry awards twice a year, on Republic Day and on Independence Day.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. courageous 2. sacrifice 3. determination 4. galantry
a) bold courage in the face of danger
b) giving up something you value for others
c) full of courage; very brave
d) the quality of not giving up
Show answer
a) bold courage in the face of danger. Only galantry is wrong: gallantry needs two l's after the ga.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of 'gallantry' as it is used in the sentence:
The scout received an award for gallantry after she led a lost child safely through the crowded mela.
a) cowardice
b) skill
c) kindness
d) fame
Show answer
a) cowardice. Gallantry is bravery; cowardice is the lack of it. Kindness, skill and fame are different qualities.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
gallantery
a) e
b) r
c) l
d) a
Show answer
a) e. The word ends in -ry straight after the t: gal-lant-ry.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
The sailor was honoured for his naltgyarl during the storm at sea.
a) galaxy
b) pageantry
c) gallantry
d) gallery
Show answer
c) gallantry. Pageantry needs a p and an e, gallery has an e and no n, and galaxy has an x; these letters make gallantry.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In old stories, a knight's gallantry towards a lady showed that he was ____.
a) shy and silent
b) rude and careless
c) polite and caring
d) proud and boastful
Show answer
c) polite and caring
2. Pick the act that shows gallantry:
a) copying a friend's homework at night
b) rescuing a child from a flooded river
c) sleeping through the morning alarm
d) complaining about the hot weather
Show answer
b) rescuing a child from a flooded river
