A dandy, an exquisite. DUDINE: A dandizette.
1883. The new coined word “dude” … has travelled over the country with a great deal of rapidity since but two months ago it grew into general use in New York.—North Adams (Mass.) Transcript, June 24. (N.E.D.)
1883. The elderly club dude may lament the decay of the good old code of honor—a word of which he has a very ludicrous conception.—Harper’s Mag., lxvii. 632/1. (N.E.D.)
1883. Not to encourage the development of the dude or dudine.—Philadelphia Times, No. 2892. (N.E.D.)
1888. If the term “dude” had been invented then [in 1866], it would often have applied to a Texan horseman.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ p. 212.
1891. Joe then went east, and married a young dudine out there.—A. Welcker, ‘Woolly West,’ p. 69. (N.E.D.)
