chalant

A back-formation from nonchalant, itself from Old French non- + chalant (“concerning, bothering”). By this process, the original Old French participle was coincidentally re-formed.

chalant (comparative more chalant, superlative most chalant)

1. (nonce word, humorous) Not nonchalant; careful, attentive, or concerned.
   • 2001, Gill Sanderson, A Full Recovery, page 20:

     'I draw the line at nonchalant. Sometimes I think you're very chalant.'

   • 2008, Golf Jokes and Anecdotes from Around the World, page 28:

     Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.

   • 2011, Sarah Schrank, Art and the City:

     Lawrence Lipton responded, "The lady is quite right, of course. It's sinful to be nonchalant. We shall endeavor to be more chalant in the future."

• Chantal, canthal

Inherited from Old French chalant, the present participle of chaloir.

• IPA^(key): /ʃa.lɑ̃/

chalant m (plural chalants, feminine chalante)

1. (now rare) Alternative form of chaland
   • 1704, Giorgio Maria Rapparini, Lignes au point, ou Lumieres nouvelles pour montrer le grand chemin de la Vérité aux égarez de l’Église, Cologne, page 251:

     Il falloit abſolument en ouvrant ſa boutique en uſer avec plus de ruſe pour attirer des Chalants en grand nombre, & debiter ſes nippes à bon marché.

     It was absolutely necessary when opening one's shop to be more cunning in order to attract a large number of regular customers, and to sell one's clothes cheaply.

chalant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of chalō

chalant

1. present participle of chaloir

• French: chaland