valiant [ME] Early senses included ‘robust’ and well-built’ as well as ‘courageous’. The source is Old French vailant, based on Latin valere ‘be strong’. The same Latin source gives valour [ME] which at first referred to ‘worth derived from personal qualities or rank’ as well as ‘courage’, and valid [L16th]. Via French valoir ‘be worth’ we also get value [ME].