a swaggering show of courage

wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Definitions of brave on the Web:

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching; "Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver ...

a North American Indian warrior

audacious: invulnerable to fear or intimidation; "audacious explorers"; "fearless reporters and photographers"; "intrepid pioneers"

brightly colored and showy; "girls decked out in brave new dresses"; "brave banners flying"; "`braw' is a Scottish word"; "a dress a bit too gay for her years"; "birds with gay plumage"

people who are brave; "the home of the free and the brave"

weather: face or endure with courage; "She braved the elements"