Gay, a. [Compar. Gayer; superl. Gayest.]
Etymology: [F. gai, perhaps fr. OHG. g swift, rapid, G. gäh, jäh, steep, hasty; or cf. OHG. w beatiful, good. Cf. Jay.]
1. Excited with merriment; manifesting sportiveness or delight; inspiring delight; livery; merry. Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay. Pope. Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed. Gray.
2. Brilliant in colors; splendid; fine; richly dressed. Why is my neighbor's wife so gay Chaucer. A bevy of fair women, richly gay In gems and wanton dressMilton.
3. Loose; dissipated; lewd. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- Merry; gleeful; blithe; airy; lively; sprightly, sportive; light- hearted; frolicsome; jolly; jovial; joyous; joyful; glad; showy; splendid; vivacious.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Gay, n.
An ornament [Obs.] L'Estrange.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for gay; he lists it under airy, happy.
Where he writes about it:
Gay applies to an effusive and superficial happiness (often not really worthy of that name) perhaps resulting largely from abundant animal spirits: we speak of gay revelers or a gay horse. — from happy