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cavalier

Cavalier is a term with multiple related meanings rooted in the idea of a mounted knight. It derives from the French chevalier, meaning a horseman or knight. In English, cavalier originally described a mounted warrior and over time came to signify a gallant, stylish, or courteous man. As an adjective, cavalier can also imply a carefree, dismissive, or nonchalant attitude, sometimes with a sense of swagger.

Historically, the word became a political designation during the English Civil War (1642–1651). The Cavaliers were

In literature and art, Cavalier can refer to the Cavalier poets, a group associated with the royal

In modern usage, cavalier can describe a chivalrous or gallant man, or, more commonly, a carefree or

the
Royalist
supporters
of
King
Charles
I
and
later
Charles
II,
opposing
the
Parliamentarians,
or
Roundheads.
The
term
continued
to
be
used
to
describe
those
aligned
with
the
monarchy
and
their
symbols,
and
it
lingered
in
culture
after
the
Restoration
of
1660,
shaping
literature,
fashion,
and
social
self-designation.
court
of
Charles
I
and
II.
They
favored
witty,
urbane
verse
and
themes
of
love,
honor,
and
carpe
diem.
In
architecture
and
interior
design
of
the
early
Stuart
period,
a
related
“Cavalier
style”
is
noted
for
ornamentation
and
a
contrast
to
Puritan
austerity,
reflecting
royalist
tastes.
nonchalant
outlook.
The
term
also
appears
in
names
and
breeds,
such
as
the
Cavalier
King
Charles
Spaniel,
a
small
dog
breed
linked
to
the
court
of
Charles
II.
The
plural
Cavaliers
appears
in
references
to
sports
teams,
notably
the
Cleveland
Cavaliers
of
the
NBA.