gala
adjectivenounnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɡɑːlə//
- United States//ˈɡælə//
- United States//ˈɡeɪlə//
- United States//ˈɡɑlə//
- Canada//ˈɡælə//
Celebratory; festive.
adjective
- 1
Celebratory; festive.
Etymology
From French gala, or directly from that word's etymon, which is either Italian gala, or Spanish gala, both meaning "festive occasion", and derived from Old French gale (“rejoicing”). (The French word likely kept the final -a to avoid homophony with gale (“scabies”).) Ultimately cognate to gallant and hence probably from Frankish *wala (“good, well”).
noun
- 1
Pomp, show, or festivity.
- 2
A competition.
a swimming gala
- 3
A showy and festive party.
- 4
A red-skinned variety of eating apple.
noun
- 1
historicalA member of an androgynous class of priests of the Sumerian goddess Inanna.
(6) Some galas/kalûs are mentioned in Pre-Sargonic and Old Babylonian texts in connection with classes of women, maids, and ḫarimtu-women. (7) The gala is sometimes mentioned in the same context with other functionaries […]
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Sumerian 𒍑𒆪 (gala), related to Akkadian 𒍑𒆪 (kalû). A connection to the similar Phrygian and Roman priests of Cybele called gallae or galli has been suggested, but evidence is lacking.
Forms
- plural
- galas