Tousle
To tousle something is to dishevel it—that is, to make it untidy or unkempt. Tousle is usually, though not always, used specifically when a person’s hair is being so treated.
// Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to get a cool, disheveled look.
jabberwocky
Jabberwocky refers to meaningless speech or writing.
// When the character gets angry or flustered, she talks in a sort of agitated jabberwocky that is really quite comical.
Flounder
To flounder is to struggle, whether that struggle is about moving or obtaining footing (as in “horses floundering through deep snow”) or about knowing what to do or say.
// Caught off-guard by the reporter’s question, the mayor floundered for a few moments before remembering the talking points he had rehearsed.
Pertain
To pertain to someone or something is to relate, refer, or have a connection to that person or thing.
// That law pertains only to people who live in this state.
Gallant
Someone or something described as gallant is very courageous and brave. Gallant is also sometimes used to mean “large and impressive” (as in “a gallant ship”), or to describe someone who has or shows politeness and respect for women.
// Though they failed to reach the summit, the mountaineering team made a gallant attempt.