Gawain
- proper noun
- Literature
- In the tale, Gawain, a knight of the Round Table, is celebrated for his courage and courtesy.
- Sir Gawain
- Gawain and the Green
Examples
-
"Ask not who I am, Sir Gawain," said the Green Knight.
Fiction book (2000) -
The most famous medieval English romance, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, centers around the confrontation between the hero and a green knight.
Academic text (1993) -
Sir Gawain led his horse through the snow in the North Country until he found a castle.
Fiction book (2000) -
"A year later, Gawain kept his promise."
Fiction book (2000) -
Because you are brave, Sir Gawain, come to face the Green Knight.
-
A knight named Sir Gawain stepped forward.
Fiction book (2000) -
"Sir Gawain told the lord and lady about the promise he'd made to the Green Knight."
Fiction book (2000) -
We had reached the magical story of Sir Gawain's vision.
Fiction book (1995) -
The stories of chivalry and mythology went beyond King Arthur and Sir Gawain.
Academic text (2002) -
The next morning, Lady Westall walked into Sir Gawain's room and woke him.
Fiction book (2000)
Synonyms
A nephew of King Arthur who is a brave, polite knight of the Round Table
Surface Forms
Etymology
Gawain likely comes from the old Welsh name Gwalchmai, which breaks down into gwalch 'hawk' and mai 'May' and can mean 'hawk of May'. A helpful way to remember him is to picture a hawk, brave, quick and noble, which fits his role as King Arthur's nephew and one of the knights of the Round Table.