jim-dandy
(chiefly, US, colloquial) Something that is a very superior example of its kind.
ˈd͡ʒɪmdəndiDocumented since 1840sSilenthistorical142 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
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Born ~1840 · no dated citations yet19th centurySee decade cohort →
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#1·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US, colloquial) Something that is a very superior example of its kind.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US, colloquial) Excellent, outstanding.
Origin: . Possibly a reference to the song Dandy Jim of Caroline (words by Silas Sexton Steel and music by J. Richard Myers), which was popular in the 1840s, around the time the term emerged. It was subsequently popularized by sports announcers in the late 1800s. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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