GAY (light-hearted)
ADJECTIVES
..960 — QUIVER active, nimble, brisk, smart, gay, lively; quick, rapid → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
1386 — GALLIARD lively, brisk, gay, full of high spirits → arch.
1400 — BAUDE joyous, gay → obs.
1426 — JOVY jovial, merry, gay → obs.
1440 — JOCANT mirthful, merry, gay, jocund → obs.
1500 — GAY in a gay mood, joyously → obs.
1567 — RIANT smiling, laughing, mirthful, cheerful, gay
1575 — DAFT thoughtless or giddy in one’s mirth; madly gay or frolicsome → chiefly Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1575 — HILAIRE gay, cheerful, merry → obs.
1589 — SMICKER gay, spruce → obs.
1590 — BUXOM blithe, gladsome, bright, lively, gay → arch.
1602 — ALACRIOUS brisk, lively, active, cheerful, gay, joyful → obs.
1603 — FACETE facetious, witty, humorous, pleasant, cheerful, gay → arch.
1603 — GLEESOME merry, gay, joyous, gleeful, lively → arch.
1654 — FESTIVOUS festive, jovial, merry, gay, mirthful
1688 — LIFESOME full of life or animation; lively, gay, sprightly, animated
1715 — VOCKIE merry, gay, light-hearted, happy → Sc.
1715 — VOGIE merry, cheerful, delighted, gay, light-hearted, happy → Sc.
1720 — VAUDIE → VAUDY cheerful, merry, gay, elated, delighted → Sc.
1725 — CADGIE → CAGEY → CAGIE in good spirits, gay, cheerful, sportive, wanton → Sc.
1733 — VADY proud, vain, ostentatious, showing off; elated, in high spirits, frisky, gay, merry → Sc.
1733 — VOUDIE adj. proud, vain, ostentatious, showing off; elated, in high spirits, frisky, gay, merry → Sc.
1733 — WADDIE → WADY proud, vain, forward, ostentatious, showing off; elated, in high spirits, frisky, cheerful, gay, merry → Sc.
1773 — RACKETY noisy, gay, fond of excitement
1790 — MIRKY → MURKIE merry, gay, light-hearted → Sc.
..19C — VOGGY merry, cheerful, delighted, gay, happy; elated, contented → Sc.
1802 — GALLANTISH gay, fond of display → Sc.
1805 — VAUDIE gay or fine in appearance, showy → Sc.
1813 — DANDY fine, gay; flashy, showy
1825 — ECKLE-FECKLE cheerful, merry, gay; also applied to one who possesses a sound and penetrating judgement → Sc. obs.
1860 — GALLIANT → GALYANT gallant; gay → Eng. dial.
1876 — MIGHTY very fine or gay → Eng. dial.
1900 — DASHIE making a great show; showy, gay, proud → Sc. (Bk.)
1903 — RICOCHET gay; splendid → American cadet usage (Bk.)
1911 — BRANKIN lively, gay; showy, ostentatious; prancing → Sc. (Bk.)
NOUNS, PERSON
1571 — FRANION a gay reckless fellow; an idle, dissolute fellow; a loose, licentious person; a gallant, a paramour, a boon companion → obs.
1600 — SPARK a young man of an elegant or foppish character; one who affects smartness or display in dress and manners; chiefly in more or less depreciatory use; a gay, dashing fellow
1611 — AIRLING a young, thoughtless, gay person; a giddy, frivolous person; a coxcomb
1661 — RACKETER a gay or noisy person
1768 — GALLIARD a gay, lively fellow; a brisk, merry, pleasant person → arch.
1822 — RAMPLOR a gay, roving fellow → Sc.
1837 — B’HOY a ruffian; a young rowdy; a gay or spirited fellow → colloq., orig. US
1865 — SAD DOG a merry fellow, a gay man; a man given to joking → sl. (Bk.)
1886 — GAY a gay or happy person (Bk.)
1980 — SHIRLEY a gay man → US sl.
VERBS
1598 — RANT to frolic, to romp; to be jovial, boisterous, uproariously gay or merry; to lead a gay or dissolute life; also, to sing or talk loudly
1623 — HILARATE to make merry, cheerful, or gay; to exhilarate → obs.
1760 — RACKET to live a gay life, to take part in social excitement
1852 — CUT ROUND to make a display; to act in a lively, gay fashion → colloq.
1902 — LAITCH to be gay; to laugh, to titter → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1951 — LIVE IT UP to enjoy oneself; to have fun; to lead a gay, extravagant life → sl., orig. US
Lexicophilia 