Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cavalier \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.

Cavalier \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.

Source : WordNet®

cavalier
     adj : given to haughty disregard of others [syn: {high-handed}]

cavalier
     n 1: a gallant or courtly gentleman [syn: {chevalier}]
     2: a royalist supporter of Charles I during the English Civil
        War