a. (and sb.). Forms: α. 4 vaillaunte, vaylaunt, vailant, 5 -aunt, vaillant. β. 4, 6 valliaunt, 5 valya(u)nte, 5–6 valya(u)nt, 6 waly-, valiaunt(e, Sc. valliant, 4– valiant (6–7 valient); 6 valeaunt(e, valeant, Sc. vaill-, wailleant. γ. (Chiefly Sc.) 5–6 vailȝeand, 6 vail(l)-, wailȝeant, -ȝeand, val(l)-, wal(l)ȝeand, -ȝeant, -yeant, -ieȝeand, -ieȝeant, -ieand, etc. [ad. OF. vailant (-and, AF. vaylant), vaillant (AF. -aunt), pres. pple. of valoir to be of worth:—L. valēre. Cf. It. and Pg. valente, Sp. valiente.
The comparative valianter, superlative valiantest were formerly frequent, the latter occurring occasionally in the 16th and 17th c. in the shortened forms valiaunst, valianst, valienst.]
1. a. Of persons: Stalwart of body, bone, hands.
Prob. with some implication of sense 2. In mod. Sussex dial. the sense of ‘stout, well-built’ is recorded.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4370. Þys Conred had a seriaunt, A wys man, and of body vaylaunt. Ibid. (1338), Chron. (1810), 9. So wis he was in dede, of body so valiant. Ibid., 144. Richer kyng is non in þis world bot ȝe, No valianter of bon in Cristendam als he.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclxxxiv. 424. Sir Moreau of Fyennes … was a right valyant man of his handes.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. V. (1550), v. Antony Wooduile,… a wise, hardy and honourable personage, as valiaunte of handes as politique of counsayll.
† b. Valiant beggar, a sturdy beggar. Obs.
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., I. xvi. 27 b. That no man … shuld gyue any almes to any valyant begger that is well able to laboure.
1534. Nott. Rec., III. 373. Harberor of valyeant begers and comyn woman.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 104 b. The Emperoure made a streicte ordinance touching valiant beggers.
† c. Of things: Strong, firm. Obs.
1542. Becon, Pathw. Prayer, xvii. H iij. For the name of the Lorde is a stronge tower & valeaunt Bulwarke.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire, viii. (1891), 60. The Wheat and Rie endureth all the winter stormes & forces as a valiant and stout grayne.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 460. A Lyon hath a most valiant and strong head.
† d. Strong in respect of smell or taste. Obs.
1607. A. Brewer, Lingua, IV. iii. This, if your breath be not too valiant, will make you smell as sweet as my lady’s dog.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Cornwall (1662), I. 194. The scent thereof [i.e., garlic] is somewhat Valiant and Offensive.
2. Having or possessing courage; esp. acting with or showing boldness or bravery in fight or on the field of battle; bold, brave, courageous, stout-hearted.
α. 1390. Gower, Conf., II. 56. So that these heraldz on him crie, ‘Vailant, vailant, lo, wher he goth!’
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 541. Sir Gawayn, knyght vailant.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxiii. 423. Lepe to horse many a vailaunt knyght.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, IV. v. (1883), 176. And thus is hit of euery man the more vaillant the more honoured.
β. c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 6952. I haue a broþer, sire Constaunt, God werrour, & man valliaunt. Ibid. (1338), Chron. (1810), 9. Many tymes on Uttred Bretons bataile souht: Uttred was so valiant, he gaf of þam right nouht.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 299. Of this grett velany I salle be yengede ones On ȝone venemus mene, wyth valiant knyghtes!
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. xlii. 482. The good knyghte Semound the valyaunt.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xcii. 296. For he is so noble and so valyaunt that he fereth no man.
1535. Coverdale, Esther xiii. 9. O Lorde Lorde, thou valeaunt and allmightie kynge.
1578. T. Procter, Gorg. Gallery, M iij b. Wee subiect bee to griefe, eche horror feares The valiaunst harts, when death doth daunt the brest.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, IV. 233. The inhabitants are valiant and warrelike people.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 199. Crocodiles … cruell and yet valiant.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, VI. 144. Glaucus…, Than whom a fairer person there was not, Nor valianter in all the Land.
1706. Maule, Hist. Picts, in Misc. Scot., I. 39. He levies a mighty and strong army of the valiantest warriors.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, II. i. 33. Panting with terror, I survey The martial host in dread array, The chiefs, how valiant and how just!
1814. Scott, Lord of Isles, IV. xviii. It is the foc! Each valiant lord Fling by his bow, and grasp his sword!
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 204. The Englishry generally respected him as a valiant, skilful, and generous enemy.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 68. In all these castles … William placed trusty and valiant captains.
transf. a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2573. His vesturis ryche, With the valyant blode was verrede alle ouer!
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 171. I gyrt thee with the valiant Sword of Yorke. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., IV. iii. 98. Those that leaue their valiant bones in France.
1782. Highmore, Ramble Coast of Sussex (1873), 19. The beauteous form of woman … graced with … her smiles the feats of valiant Arms.
Comb. 1595. Locrine, II. iii. There might we see the valiant minded knights, Fetching carreers along the spatious plaines.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. i. 90. I do not thinke a brauer Gentleman, More actiue valiant, or more valiant young,… is now aliue.
γ. c. 1470. Gol. & Gaw., 243. The king stude … maist vailyeand to se.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxiii. 7. Men of armes, and vailȝeand knychtis.
1563. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 3. The wailȝeant cheiftane of God … Nehemias.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 9. In the weiris thay war maist valȝeant, and in peace maist faithfull.
b. Const. of (courage, etc.).
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 298. Knyghtes & sergeantz, noble men fulle couth, Of prowes fulle valiantz.
1538. Elyot, Fortis, valyant of corage.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 46. A Lad of Life, an Impe of Fame, of Parents good, of Fist most valiant.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Jack a Lent, Wks. (1630), L 2 b. I wish a plentifull encrease of good appetites and hungry stomackes, that euery one in their calling may proue valiant of their teeth.
c. absol. with the.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Judges xxi. 10. Twelue thousand men of the moste valiant.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. ii. 71 b. [The] most valiant of the valiauntest.
a. 1668. Davenant, Poems (1672), 335. O harmless Death! whom still the valiant brave.
1718. Prior, Henry & Emma, 80. In Tilts and Turnaments the Valiant strove … to purchase Emma’s Love.
1816. Wordsw., Ode, 1815, 57. The valiant of this land.
† d. Of material things: Fine, splendid. Obs.
1604. Middleton, Black Book, D iij b. A valiant Buffe Doublet, stuft with Points like a Legge of Mutton with Parslye.
3. Characterized by, performed with, or exhibiting valor or courage; of a valorous character or nature.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12576. Schame hit were þat eyþer ȝede Wiþouten bataille or vaillaunte dede.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, l. 11. He did full mony valȝeant deid In Roiss, and Murray land.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lv. 188. His barons stode styll to beholde his valyaunt dedes.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 304. Before Winter be past I will enter into Fraunce, in puyssaunt and valyaunt maner.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 75. The foresaide captaine with his armie … gaue them such a valiant onset, that the greater part of them was slaine.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1687), 750/1. The valiant Exhortation of an old Man … chang’d the minds and fortune of the whole City.
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), I. 50. Truly with valiant patient energy … it carried its Petition of Right.
1907. Trans. Devon Assoc., 51. The valiant deeds of the great reign of Elizabeth.
† 4. Of great worth or merit; worthy. Obs. rare.
1480. Caxton, Myrr., I. v. (E.E.T.S.), 25. Other philosophres ther were … prudent alle and valyant, seen that they set to fore alle other thynges clergye.
† 5. Marked or characterized by the use of strength. Obs.–1
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xxvii. (1880), 289. That some be done with extending of myght, and as hit were violently, and that is called valiaunt exercise.
† 6. Worth (a specified sum). Also const. in (goods or property). Cf. VAIL v.1 4. Obs. rare.
1590. Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 557. The said Thomas is bot ane puir man…, not valiant in substance and guidis ane hundreth pundis. Ibid. (1603), VI. 525. All … landit gentlemen, valiant tuentie chalderis of victuall.
1608. Middleton, Trick to catch Old One, I. i. A rich country widow, four hundred a year valiant, in woods, in bullocks, in barns and in rye-stacks.
† b. Sc. As sb. Value or worth. Obs.–1
1606. Sc. Acts, Jas. VI. (1816), IV. 286. The saidis decreittis … may bring þe danger of the ȝeirlie violent proffeittis vpoun the persones,… thairby surmounting often tymes thair haill valient.
† 7. Sc. Valid, effective, decisive. Obs.–1
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IV. 143. Their … definitiue sentence in Lawe or Religion is … absolutely valiant.
8. As sb. One who is valiant; a brave or courageous person.
1609. Bible (Douay), Jer. xlvi. 9. Get ye up on horses, and in chariots, and let the valiants come forth.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. xxi., heading. Foure battels against the Philistines, wherein foure valiants of Dauid slay foure gyants.
a. 1722. Sewell, Hist. Quakers, Pref. (1795), A 4. For the most eminent Valiants among this People in the Beginning were not Men of Note or Learning, tho’ of great Courage.
1909. Westm. Gaz., 25 May, 4/1. Valiants of the wheel who, when they cannot drive, will tramp over the dreary marshes of Turkestan.
Hence † Valiant v. trans., to render valiant.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, I. lxxv. (1647), 231. Sure, Virtue is a Defendress, and valiants the heart of man.
