dandy

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.

adjective, dan·di·er, dan·di·est.

3. characteristic of a dandy; foppish.
4. Informal. fine; excellent; first-rate: a dandy vacation spot.

noun plural -dies

1. a man greatly concerned with smartness of dress; beau
2. a yawl or ketch

adjective -dier or -diest

3. informal very good or fine

noun

1. another name for dengue

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.

see fine and dandy.