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dandy

 - 5 dictionary results

dan⋅dy

  [dan-dee] noun, plural -dies, adjective, -di⋅er, -di⋅est.
Use dandy in a Sentence
–noun
1. a man who is excessively concerned about his clothes and appearance; a fop.
2. Informal. something or someone of exceptional or first-rate quality: Your reply was a dandy.
–adjective
3. characteristic of a dandy; foppish.
4. Informal. fine; excellent; first-rate: a dandy vacation spot.
Origin:
1770–80; orig. uncert.

Related forms:
dan⋅di⋅ly, dan⋅dy⋅ish⋅ly, dan⋅di⋅a⋅cal⋅ly  [dan-dahy-uhk-lee] , adverb
dan⋅dy⋅ish, dan⋅di⋅a⋅cal, adjective
dan⋅dy⋅ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dandy
dan·dy   (dān'dē)   
n.   pl. dan·dies

  1. A man who affects extreme elegance in clothes and manners; a fop.

  2. Something very good or agreeable.

  3. Nautical See yawl.

adj.   dan·di·er, dan·di·est

  1. Suggestive of or attired like a dandy; foppish.

  2. Fine; good.


[Perhaps short for jack-a-dandy, fop.]
dan'di·ly adv., dan'dy·ish adj., dan'dy·ish·ly adv., dan'dy·ism n.
yawl   (yôl)   
n.  

  1. A two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailing vessel similar to the ketch but having a smaller jigger- or mizzenmast stepped abaft the rudder. Also called dandy.

  2. A ship's small boat, crewed by rowers.


[Dutch jol, possibly from Low German jolle.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dandy  (n.)
c.1780, of uncertain origin, first appeared in a Scottish border ballad:
I've heard my granny crack
O' sixty twa years back
When there were sic a stock of Dandies O
etc. In that region, Dandy is dim. of Andrew. In vogue in London c.1813-19. His fem. counterpart was a dandizette (1821) with Fr.-type ending. The adjective dandy first recorded 1792; very popular c.1880-1900.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

dandy

see fine and dandy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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