Gaily
/ˈɡeɪ.li/noun
In a cheerful, lighthearted, or brightly decorated manner.
Did you know?Gaily is the adverb form of gay, and older English used gay for bright, lively, and carefree long before its modern identity-related sense emerged.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gailijaz
“merry, lively, excited”
Old English
Old English
gǣl
“mirth, pleasure, delight”
Middle English
Middle English
gai
“cheerful, bright, showy”
15th Century
English
gayly
“in a merry or bright manner”
Modern English
English
gaily
“in a cheerful, carefree, or showy manner”