gayness

Definition

The state of being gay (colorful or festive); display or dressiness.

Etymology

From Middle English gaynesse, equivalent to gay + -ness.

Example Sentences

• "And truly, at a short butt, which some men doth use, the peacock feather doth seldom keep up the shaft either right or level, it is so rough and heavy ; so that many men, which have taken them up for gayness, hath laid them down again for profit:"
• "Let me ſpeak prowdly: Tell the Conſtable, ⁠/ We are but Warriors for the working-day: / Our Gayneſſe and our Gilt are all beſmyrcht / With raynie Marching in the painefull field."
• "You cannot blame their gayness, their queerness, their homosexuality on sudden wealth."