gallants

Are the audience of a play-house, which are generally persons of honour, noblemen, and ladies, or, at worst, as one of your authors calls his gallants, men of wit and pleasure about the town [20], -- are these the rabble of Mr Hunt?

The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 07 John Dryden 1665

The settlers of 1607, 1608 and 1609 were almost entirely swept out of existence, and not one in fifty of these "gallants" survived to found families.

Patrician and Plebeian Or The Origin and Development of the Social Classes of the Old Dominion Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker 1922

Her fore and main tops'ls and to'gallants'ls were set, as also were her lower stays'ls and royals.

Moran of the Lady Letty Frank Norris 1886

Well, going to sea, the mate told him to go aloft and help shake out the foreto'gallants'l.

Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion Mark Twain 1872

He smiles graciously when we meet, but with all we hear about the wickedness of the French, Grammont has shown me greater respect than I have had from any one of the so-called gallants about the court. "

The Touchstone of Fortune Charles Major 1884

"gallants" of the reign of Charles were now a past generation.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 62, No. 384, October 1847 Various

"gallants" who roamed about the land in those days, the fair prisoners must have had a dismal time while incarcerated in these dungeon-like apartments.

From John O'Groats to Land's End Robert Naylor

One anchor lifted, t'other chain shortened in, tops'ls and t'gallants'ls cast off, ready to cant her at the right moment -- "

Lady Good-for-Nothing Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

"The Yankee takes a good long look at her, or at least at her to'gallants'ls, which was all we could see, and then tells us he'd made up his mind to have a slap at the chap during the night.

For Treasure Bound Harry Collingwood 1886

"Ay, I'm no sayin 'ye may no be richt, sir," answered the first lieutenant; "but it'll be an unco strain upon the spars to set thae to'gallants'ls; our new rigging has stretched until it's all hangin 'in bights, as ye may see for yoursel' by lookin 'at it.

A Middy of the King A Romance of the Old British Navy Harry Collingwood 1886