Etymology

dandy

D2A1N1D2Y4

Today it means: A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self. Full definition →

First used 1685Scots dandy
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dandy · noun, adjective1

  1. Scots · borrowed fromdandy“a fop; one who is well-dressed”
  2. English todaydandy

Borrowed 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.

dandy · noun2

  1. Sanskrit · derived fromदण्डिका
  2. Sauraseni Prakrit · derived from𑀟𑀁𑀟𑀺𑀕𑀸
  3. Hindi · borrowed fromडंडी“rod, pole”
  4. English todaydandy

From Hindi डंडी (ḍaṇḍī, “rod, pole”), from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀟𑀁𑀟𑀺𑀕𑀸 (ḍaṃḍigā), from Sanskrit दण्डिका (daṇḍikā), from दण्ड (daṇḍa) + -इका (-ikā).

First known use, by meaning

  • 1685 A boatman, a rower.
  • 1832 A Shaiva mendicant who carries a small rod.
  • 1870 An open sedan chair formed by suspending a rudimentary frame or strong cloth from a pole or set of poles.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.