swagger

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a conspicuously confident, arrogant, or self-important manner of walking or behaving

   He crossed the room with an exaggerated swagger.

2. 2
   verb

   to walk or behave with ostentatious confidence or arrogance

   The actor swaggered onto the stage as though he owned it.

3. 3
   adj

   dated British informal: stylish, impressive, or fashionable

   The magazine praised the hotel's swagger new dining room.

A frequentative formation from swag, 'to sway or move heavily.' The movement sense developed into an ostentatious strut and then into arrogant self-confidence. The dated adjective extended the same display to stylish or impressive things.

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