[f. FANCY v. + -ER2.] One who fancies, in senses of the vb.
1. One who fancies or imagines.
1828. Macaulay, Hallam, Ess. (1889), 53. People who, in their speculations in politics, are not reasoners, but fanciers.
2. One who makes tasteful designs.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., III. IV. xiv. § 11. 203. Their best workmen and most brilliant fanciers were employed in wreathing the mail or embroidering the robe.
3. One who has a liking for, and a critical judgement in, some class of curiosities, plants, animals, etc. Chiefly with prefixed sb., as in dog-, flower-, pigeon-fancier.
1765. Johnson, Shaks., I. 155. Some now call that which a man takes particular delight in his Fancy. Flower fancier for a florist, and Bird fancier for a lover and feeder of birds are colloquial words.
1767. S. Paterson, Another Traveller! II. I. 152. It is also true that Dutchmen, generally speaking, are fanciers.
1773. Barrington, in Phil. Trans., LXIII. 280. Some of the nightingale fanciers … prefer a Surry bird to those of Middlesex.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 247. We have oddity fanciers among our ladies of rank.
1859. Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 167. Dog-fanciers … in many cases might with as much propriety answer to the name of dog-stealers.
1861. Delamer, Fl. Gard., 34. The fourth year … the fancier may look out for a prize or two.
1867. W. B. Tegetmeier, Pigeons, iii. 25. Numerous varieties of Pigeons that are known to naturalists and fanciers.
attrib. 1891. Leeds Merc., 3 Oct., 12/2. A ‘fancier Judge.’
