General
gallus
What does gallus mean?
Daring, cheeky and full of swagger; confident, flashy and irrepressible, sometimes to the point of cockiness.
"He's that gallus he'd chat up anybody."
Origin
Scots, from 'gallows' — originally meaning 'fit for the gallows', i.e. wild or reckless, later softening to bold and cheeky.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'gallus' mean?
Bold, cheeky and full of swagger. It describes someone confident, flashy and irrepressible, sometimes bordering on cocky.
Where does 'gallus' come from?
It comes from 'gallows'. It originally meant 'fit for the gallows', i.e. wild or reckless, and later softened into the admiring sense of bold and cheeky.
Is 'gallus' an insult or a compliment?
It can be either depending on tone. Often it is admiring, praising someone's nerve and swagger, but it can also mock someone as too cocky.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
