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dandy

[dan-dee]
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noun, plural dan·dies.
  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.
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adjective, dan·di·er, dan·di·est.
  1. characteristic of a dandy; foppish.
  2. Informal. fine; excellent; first-rate: a dandy vacation spot.
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Origin of dandy

First recorded in 1770–80; origin uncertain
Related formsdan·di·ly, dan·dy·ish·ly, dan·di·a·cal·ly [dan-dahy-uh k-lee] /dænˈdaɪ ək li/, adverbdan·dy·ish, dan·di·a·cal, adjectivedan·dy·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dandy

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • She had been to business college and was a dandy stenographer.

    Dust

    Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

  • I think that was just Saunders trying to make a dandy good job of it.

    Good Indian

    B. M. Bower

  • "He's a dandy if he catches Baumberger," Miss Georgie averred, gloomily.

    Good Indian

    B. M. Bower

  • And I thought of a dandy idea, it's what they call an inspiration.

    Pee-wee Harris

    Percy Keese Fitzhugh

  • They know Dandy Jack, and are philosophically resigned to their fate.

British Dictionary definitions for dandy

dandy1

noun plural -dies
  1. a man greatly concerned with smartness of dress; beau
  2. a yawl or ketch
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adjective -dier or -diest
  1. informal very good or fine
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Derived Formsdandily, adverbdandyish, adjectivedandyism, noun

Word Origin

C18: perhaps short for jack-a-dandy

dandy2

noun
  1. another name for dengue
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dandy

n.

c.1780, of uncertain origin; it 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 diminutive of Andrew (as it was in Middle English generally). The word was in vogue in London c.1813-1819. His female counterpart was a dandizette (1821) with French-type ending. The adjective dandy first recorded 1792; very popular c.1880-1900. Related: Dandified; dandify.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with dandy

dandy

see fine and dandy.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.