DAINTY (2)

dainty (2). Dainty, n. a delicacy, nice thing, titbit

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Dain″ty, a. [Compar. Daintier (?); superl. Daintiest.] 1. 1. Rare; valuable; costly.
Full many a deynté horse had he in stable. Chaucer. ☞ Hence the proverb “dainty maketh dearth,” i.e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious. 2. 2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. Shak. 3. 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. Milton. I would be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty waist. Tennyson. 4. 4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious.
Thew were a fine and dainty people. Bacon. And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. Shak. To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty, She, I'll swear, hath corns. Shak.