or dandipratt, subs. (old).—Primarily a dwarf; a page; by implication a jackanapes. In all likelihood, the etymon of the modern ‘dandy,’ erroneously derived from the French dandin = a fool, as in Molière, Georges Dandin. [From DANDIPRATT, a half farthing of the time of Henry VII.]
1607. T. TOMKIS, Lingua, or the Five Senses, iii. 3 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), V. 172]. Anamnestes. … This Heuresis, this Invention, is the proudest jackanapes, the pertest self-conceited boy that ever breath’d: because, forsooth, some odd poet, or some such fantastic fellows, make much on him, there’s no ho with him; the vile DANDI-PRAT will overlook the proudest of his acquaintance.
1622. MASSINGER, The Virgin Martyr, II., i. The smug DANDIPRAT smells us out, whatsoever we are doing.
1657. MIDDLETON, More Dissemblers besides Women, Anc. Dr., IV., 372. There’s no good fellowship in this DANDIPRAT, this divedapper [didapper], as in other pages.
1706. R. ESTCOURT, The Fair Example, Act iii., Sc. 3, p. 40. Boy. A candle, sir! ’tis broad daylight yet. Whims. What then, you little DANDYPRAT? If we have a mind to a candle we will have a candle.
1821. SCOTT, Kenilworth, ch. xxvi. It is even so, my little DANDYPRAT, but who the devil could teach it thee.
