D — Daggle-tail to Daltonism (Part 3 of 6)

2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.

That precious nectar may the taste renew
Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost.

3. A term of fondness. [Poetic] B. Jonson.

Syn. — Dainty, Delicacy. These words are here compared as denoting articles of food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are particularly attractive. Dainty is stronger, and denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may be provided with all the delicacies of the season, and its table richly covered with dainties.

These delicacies
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,
Walks and the melody of birds.

[A table] furnished plenteously with bread,
And dainties, remnants of the last regale.

Dainty
(Dain"ty), a. [Compar. Daintier ; superl. Daintiest.]

1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]

Full many a deynté horse had he in stable.

Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.

2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.

Dainty bits
Make rich the ribs.

3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.

Those dainty limbs which nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy.

I would be the girdle.
About her dainty, dainty waist.

4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious.

Thew were a fine and dainty people.

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away.

To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.]

Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She, I'll swear, hath corns.

Dairy
(Dai"ry) n.; pl. Dairies [OE. deierie, from deie, daie, maid; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deigja maid, dairymaid, Sw. deja, orig., a baking maid, fr. Icel. deig. &radic66. See Dough.]

1. The place, room, or house where milk is kept, and converted into butter or cheese.

What stores my dairies and my folds contain.

2. That department of farming which is concerned in the production of milk, and its conversion into butter and cheese.

Grounds were turned much in England either to feeding or dairy; and this advanced the trade of English butter.