gala

词源不详，原义为欢乐，引申义庆典。可能来自PIE*wel, 意愿，希望，词源同will, gallant. 即按照自己的意愿寻找欢乐。

gala

gala: [17] Gala comes ultimately from Arabic khil’a, which denoted an ‘especially fine garment given as a presentation’. This original meaning persisted through Spanish gala and into Italian and French gala, from one or other of which English got it (‘Whereupon this King and the whole Court put on Galas [special festive attire]’, Cabala sive scrinia sacra 1654) and survived into the 19th century (‘Apparelled on Sunday morning in gala, as if for the drawingroom, he constantly marched out all his household to the parish church’, George Bancroft, History of the United States 1876).

Nowadays, however, all that remains is the extended sense ‘festive occasion’, first recorded in the late 18th century.

gala (n.)

1620s, "festive dress or attire" (obsolete), from French en gala, perhaps from Old French gale "merriment," from galer "rejoice, make merry" (see gallant). Klein suggests the French word is from Italian gala (as in phrase vestito di gala "robe of state"), perhaps from Arabic khil'a "fine garment given as a presentation." Sense of "festive occasion" (characterized by display of finery) first recorded 1777. Quasi-adjectival use in gala day "day of festivities," etc.

1. The gala evening was attended by royalty and politicians.

王室成员和政坛要人参加了这个晚会。

2. The Queen attended a gala concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

女王出席了在皇家音乐厅举行的音乐盛会.

3. Christmas is a gala day.

圣诞节是个喜庆的日子.

4. The gala culminated in a firework display.

晚会以大放烟火告终.

5. This is a gala occasion.

这是一个欢乐的时刻.