Dan"dy (?), n.; pl. Dandies (#). [Cf. F. dandin, ninny, silly fellow, dandiner to waddle, to play the fool; prob. allied to E. dandle. Senses 2&3 are of uncertain etymol.]
1.
One who affects special finery or gives undue attention to dress; a fop; a coxcomb.
2. Naut. (a)
A sloop or cutter with a jigger on which a lugsail is set.
(b)
A small sail carried at or near the stern of small boats; -- called also jigger, and mizzen.
3.
A dandy roller. See below.
Dandy brush, a yard whalebone brush. -- Dandy fever. See Dengue. -- Dandy line, a kind of fishing line to which are attached several crosspieces of whalebone which carry a hook at each end. -- Dandy roller, a roller sieve used in machines for making paper, to press out water from the pulp, and set the paper.
© Webster 1913.