a. [f. STARCH sb. + -Y.]
1. Of or belonging to starch; resembling that of starch.
1802. Coleridge, Lett., To W. Sotheby (1895), 384. This [cloud] is of a starchy grey.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), 406. The pieces … break with a short starchy fracture.
2. Of the nature of starch; composed of or containing starch-grains.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 667. The solution of diastase … separates amidin from all starchy substances containing it.
1861. Bentley, Bot., 343. The albumen is described as mealy, starchy, or farinaceous, when its cells are filled with starch-grains.
1867. Chamb. Encycl., IX. 86/1. Limit the diet of the patient … to a purely starchy diet, such as arrowroot.
1913. E. Thorpe, Dict. Applied Chem., V. 172/2. The starchy liquor as it comes from the sieves generally contains some sand.
3. Of linen, etc.: Stiffened with starch.
1865. [Implied in starchiness: see below].
4. fig. Of a person: Stiff, formal, precise.
1828–32. Webster, Starchy, stiff, precise.
1859. Hotten’s Slang Dict., 101. Starchy, stuck-up, high-notioned, showily dressed, disdainful, cross.
1864. F. W. Robinson, Mattie, II. 286. He was the poor relation, he fancied, and some of these starchy beings scented his poverty by instinct.
1880. ‘Ouida,’ Moths, xiv. London had got so much nicer, she said, so much less starchy.
1897. W. C. Hazlitt, Four Generations, II. IV. vii. 149. My father … got into trouble by asking some rather starchy people to meet them at dinner.
Hence Starchily adv., Starchiness.
1859. F. Francis, Newton Dogvane, III. ii. 51. Ned rode after her, rather piqued at what he termed ‘his sisters’ starchiness.’
1865. Daily Tel., 6 May, 3/5. The night-dress … had all the freshness and starchiness of one which had only just been taken for use.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., I. iii. There were no distinctively clerical lines in the face,… no tricks of starchiness or of affected ease.
1882. Ogilvie, Starchily.
1886. G. R. Sims, Ring o’ Bells, etc. 98. Primness and starchiness are not always the signs of a bad heart.
