dan·dy / ˈdandē/ • n. (pl. -dies) 1. a man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.2. inf., dated an excellent thing of its kind: this umbrella is a dandy.• adj. (-di·er, -di·est) 1. inf. excellent.2. relating to or characteristic of a dandy.DERIVATIVES: dan·dy·ish adj.dan·dy·ism / -ˌizəm/ n.

dandy beau, fop; the dandy the correct thing XVIII; applied to various trim or handy objects XIX. First recorded from the Scottish Border; perh. a shortening of jack-a-dandy pert fellow (XVII); the source of dandy remains unkn., but it may be ult. identical with Dandy, pet-form of Andrew.