palliard

English

Etymology

Middle English payllart (1484), Middle French paillard, from Middle French paille (“straw”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpælɪəd/, /ˈpælɪɑːd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpæljɚd/

Noun

palliard (plural palliards)

1. (archaic) A beggar or vagrant, especially a professional one; (earlier especially) a lecher.
   • 1614, Walter Raleigh, Hist. World, II, page 476:

     A most luxurious and effeminate Palliard he was.

   • 1964, Anthony Burgess, Nothing Like the Sun:

     They all knew him. A palliard, some said on Henley Street, a wild rogue.

Alternative forms

• paillard

Related terms

• palliardise (noun), palliardry, palliardy
• palliardize (verb)

Anagrams

• paillard