/ˈdæn.di/
OriginBorrowed from Scots dandy (“a fop; one who is well-dressed”). Of uncertain origin.
Possibly from Dandy, a diminutive of Andrew, yet the Scots word is used also in reference to women. Alternatively, possibly a back-formation of Scots dandilly, dandillie (“one who is spoiled or pampered; a "pet"”). Compare English dandle and dander.
- A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self.
“The gallant young Indian dandy at home on furlough — immense dandies these — chained and moustached — driving in tearing cabs, the pillars of the theatres, living at West End Hotels, — […]”
“No town-bred dandy will compare with a country-bred one—I mean a downright bumpkin dandy–a fellow that, in the dog-days, will mow his two acres in buckskin gloves for fear of tanning his hands.”
““Gerald Croft is an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town.””
- Something excellent in its class.
- BritishA yawl, or a small after-sail on a yawl.
- A dandy roller.
- Ireland, UK, archaic, slangA small glass of whisky.
“Somebody quite as notorious as Brummell, but whose follies have been far more mischievous; whose eloquence is great, but certainly not always refined; and to whose health many a dandy of whisky has be”
- historicalA horse-drawn railway carriage used on some branch lines.
“Other notable instances of horse-drawn vehicles for passenger services were the dandies used on the two-mile branch to Inchture of the Perth-Dundee line of the Caledonian Railway […], and the 2½-mile ”
- IndiaA boatman, a rower.
“Our Dandees (or boatmen) boyled their rice.”
- IndiaA Shaiva mendicant who carries a small rod.
“...the Dandis, distinguished by carrying a small dand or wand...”
- IndiaAn open sedan chair formed by suspending a rudimentary frame or strong cloth from a pole or set of poles.
“1870, Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming, Good Words, p. 135:”
“As the darkness closed in... I had to give up the attempt to use the dandy, and struggle on on foot.”
“Major Battye and Captain Urmston joined the rear and placed the wounded man in a dandy.”
- Like a dandy, foppish.
- Very good; better than expected but not as good as could be.
“That's all fine and dandy, but how much does it cost?”
- Excellent; first-rate.
“What a dandy little laptop you have.”
“Grip Sures are dandy shoes for anything that comes along. Hiking, climbing, canoeing, around camp or in the gym — you can't have anything better.”
“Its gonna be just dandy / The day I take my Candy / And make him mine all mine”
- A surname.
- abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal, singularClipping of Dandenong.
- in-plural, informalThe Dandenong Ranges.
Formsdandies(plural) · dandier(comparative) · dandiest(superlative) · dandi(alternative) · dandie(alternative) · dandee(alternative) · Dandys(plural)