\Cav`a*lier"\ (k[a^]v`[.a]*l[=e]r"), n. [F. cavalier,
It. cavaliere, LL. caballarius, fr. L. caballus. See
{Cavalcade}, and cf. {Chevalier}, {Caballine}.]
1. A military man serving on horseback; a knight.
2. A gay, sprightly, military man; hence, a gallant.
3. One of the court party in the time of king Charles I. as
   contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament.
   --Clarendon.
4. (Fort.) A work of more than ordinary height, rising from
   the level ground of a bastion, etc., and overlooking
   surrounding parts.

\Cav`a*lier"\, a.
Gay; easy; offhand; frank.
      The plodding, persevering scupulous accuracy of the
      one, and the easy, cavalier, verbal fluency of the
      other, form a complete contrast. --Hazlitt.
2. High-spirited. [Obs.] ``The people are naturally not
   valiant, and not much cavalier.'' --Suckling.
3. Supercilious; haughty; disdainful; curt; brusque.
4. Of or pertaining to the party of King Charles I. ``An old
   Cavalier family.'' --Beaconsfield.