Also 7 Iack O’Dandy. (See JACK sb.1 35, and cf. DANDY sb.1] A little pert or conceited fellow; a contemptuous name for a beau, fop, dandy.
1632. Brome, North. Lasse, III. ii. Ile throw him into the Dock rather then he shall succeed Iack O’Dandy.
1664. Etherege, Com. Revenge, II. iii. Leave her, she’s only worth the Care of some spruce Jack-a-dandy.
1754. Richardson, Grandison (1781), IV. xxix. 209. Notwithstanding all the Jack-a-dandies that have been fluttering about you.
1869. Spurgeon, J. Ploughm. Talk, 13. I’d sooner by half bend my back double with hard work than be a jack-a-dandy.
attrib. a. 1791. Grose, Olio (1796), 98. Ere in this jack-a-dandy plight, I boasted an exclusive right.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xix. 168. Tom did not understand French, but rather despised it as a jack-a-dandy acquirement.
Hence Jack-a-dandyism [see -ISM].
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, iv. 37. They call in Jack Growling, who scorns jack-a-dandyism, and he gets a solitary guinea.
