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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Dash; verve.
  2. n. A bunch of feathers or a plume, especially on a helmet.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. In architecture, the triangular surface of a pendentive.
  2. n. A plume as worn in a hat or helmet or in a woman's hair; especially, in medieval armor, a massive group of feathers set erect, often used as a heraldic bearing.
  3. n. In zoology, a tuft, bunch, or cluster of hairs, feathers, or the like; a scopula; a panicle.
  4. n. In astronomy, a tuft-like solar protuberance of eruption.

Wiktionary

  1. n. An ornamental plume on a helmet.
  2. n. Flamboyant, energetic style or action; dash; verve.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. A plume or bunch of feathers, esp. such a bunch worn on the helmet; any military plume, or ornamental group of feathers.
  2. n. A pleasingly flamboyant style or manner; flair{4}; verve.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. distinctive and stylish elegance
  2. n. a feathered plume on a helmet

Etymologies

  1. French, plume, verve, from Italian pinnacchio, plume, from Late Latin pinnāculum, diminutive of Latin pinna, feather, wing; see pet- in Indo-European roots.

Examples

  • “It lacked what the French call "panache," but it was sometimes hard work.”

    The Wall Street Journal: Evans Above: Aussie Clinches Tour Win

  • “It is an elegant example of what the French call a casque bourgignon, a Burgundian helmet of distinctive design that was the choice of kings and noblemen—a handsome, high-crowned helmet with a comb and helm forged from a single piece of metal.5 Above the helmet is a large plume of white feathers called a panache—the origin of our modern word.”

    Simon & Schuster: Champlain's Dream

  • “Columnist John Warrilow says the 34-year-old is far from the most stylish cyclist - some of the French media claim he lacks "panache" - but his story has captured the imagination of even the most casual cycling fans.”

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed

  • “I always thought I LOVED Michael Higby as a great guy who has that certain "panache" and is great at giving "takes and angles and insights," but I really have to wonder about it all, as a whole, when he is allowing desperate nutty comments, from someone he knows and recognizes as the commenter,and he goes along with it and allows his blog to be hijacked.”

    Thursday Morning Hotsheet

  • “SonyaInTx: Nobody wants clothes worn by someone with cigarette burns and Pantsy 10 minutes ago (4:50 PM) and by panache you mean batsh*t crazy, yes? w8pLT%2FCO%2Fh61oi3edkOoFYLUgDFBNPq%2B3O9wy0KM8is%3D Pirelli 2010 Calendar Photos: Nude Models Banana-Eating, Sloth-Holding And MUCH More (NSFW PICTURES, POLL) Charlene Wittstock Takes Ireland In A Tailcoat, One-Shouldered Gown (PHOTOS, POLL) Dressed To Kilt 2011: Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Noth, Kellie Pickler And Markus Schenkenberg Model Tartan, Tweed And Cowboy Chic 4BX0JijDowtX07X%2BHr0%2FiG4UzDPQrTUJnYidWoIbG%2F3tM%2BRpdq7FSwrJRf6vj%2BXCwxqHFpANM%2BkGpsw16FcaxVJAR2MUTw%2Bj 'Curvy' Model Marquita Pring: 'I Was Always The Biggest Girl In My Grade' zaibatsu”

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

  • “There isn’t a single other television character that brings the kind of panache and delivery that Jeffrey Carlson brings to daytime’s favorite tran-tran.”

    ZARF TO LEAVE ALL MY CHILDREN! | Best Week Ever

  • “Victoria Griffith tells his story in " The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont" Abrams Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, $16.95 , which is illustrated with panache in rich, smudgy oils and pastels by Italian artist Eva Montanari.”

    The Wall Street Journal: Mankind's Variety In Candy Colors

  • “Jonathan Miller, ENO, 1982This Mafiosi Rigoletto became the template for a whole raft of similar updatings, none of which have come close to matching its sharp-eyed detail and sheer dramatic panache.”

    The Guardian: Ten productions that changed British opera

  • “England's top three is awash with patience and discipline, the middle order has panache, they bat frighteningly deep.”

    The Guardian: Andrew Strauss believes England's success is well founded to continue

  • “He does, however, tell the tale with a panache that will carry along all but the most pedantic of readers.”

    The Wall Street Journal: His Wealth of Nations

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  • milosrdenstvi Brought into English by Rostand in his play Cyrano de Bergerac; his dying words declare that it is the only thing that cannot be taken away from him. Aug 18, 2008
  • sionnach "The bump in my forehead is the result of a regrettable cooking accident", explained Tom with panache. Dec 8, 2007
  • brtom "In lowcorsaged opal balldress and elbowlength ivory gloves, wearing a sabletrimmed brick quilted dolman, a comb of brilliants and panache of osprey in her hair."
    Joyce, Ulysses, 15 Feb 5, 2007

‘panache’ has been looked up 2553 times, loved by 13 people, added to 117 lists, commented on 3 times, and has a Scrabble score of 14.