gentle giant en · NOUN
Etymology
From gentle + giant. First use appears c. 1807 in a translated work. See cite below.
Meanings
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(idiomatic) A person or animal of a great size or strength, yet who is of a friendly nature and not aggressive or threatening.
[…] lest he be should be brought into the like state as was the gentle giant.
1807, Francisco de Moraes, Luis Hurtado, Anthony Munday, Palmerin of England [also ascribed to L. Hurtado, originally translated by A. Munday, corrected by Robert Southey], page 112:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gentle giants | Number=Plur | lexicographic |