gala

Forms

gala m (plural galas)^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Spanish gala (“court dress, festive attire”), recorded in Spanish from the mid-15th century,^[1][3] which is itself from Old French gale (“merrymaking, rejoicing”) (13th century), a deverbal noun of galer (“to make merry”), the verb behind galant.^[1][3][4][5] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert leave open whether French took it from Spanish or Italian.^[6][2] Littré traced the Old French word to Germanic, comparing Old High German geil and Old English gāl.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1670 in parez de gala “sumptuously dressed”, in Carel's news from Madrid.^[1][5] Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1666, in a report on festivities in Madrid.^[4][6]

Semantic evolution

First used of Spain, it became general in the 18th century, spelled galla in 1736, for a grand, usually official festivity.^[3][1][6] By analogy it meant a sumptuous private meal or party (1787),^[3][5] a sense now dated,^[5] and habit de gala “ceremonial dress” is recorded in 1787.^[5] Today it is also a special show given for a charity or in honour of someone.^[8]

Timeline

• 1666 – The word appears in a report on festivities in Madrid.^[4][6]
• 1670 – Parez de gala “sumptuously dressed” is used of Madrid.^[1]
• 1736 – Galla names a grand festivity at the imperial court.^[1][3]
• 1787 – Habit de gala and the sense “sumptuous meal” are recorded.^[5][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A grand, usually official reception or festivity.^[2][8]
2. A special show given for a charity or in someone's honour: gala de bienfaisance.^[8][2]
3. De gala: for formal occasions, as in tenue de gala, soirée de gala.^[8][2]
4. (dated) A sumptuous private meal or party.^[5]

Related words

• galant
• Spanish gala

Usage notes

A separate feminine noun gala (1994) names a red and yellow apple variety from New Zealand, probably from the first name Gala.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
2. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)