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Webster 1913 Edition
Squeamish
Squeam′ish
(skwēm′ĭsh)
, Adj.
[OE.
squaimous
, sweymous
, probably from OE. sweem
, swem
, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. sveimr
a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim
a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one, Icel. svimi
a giddiness, AS. swīma
. The word has been perhaps confused with qualmish
. Cf. Swim
to be dizzy.] Having a stomach that is easily turned or nauseated; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties.
Quoth he, that honor’s very
That takes a basting for a blemish.
squeamish
That takes a basting for a blemish.
Hudibras.
His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain
The men of
The men of
squeamish
taste to entertain. Southern.
So ye grow
squeamish
, Gods, and sniff at heaven. M. Arnold.
Syn. – Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See
– Fastidious
. Squeam′ish-ly
, adv.
Squeam′ish-ness
, Noun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Squeamish
SQUEAMISH
,Adj.
Quoth he, that honors very squeamish that takes a basting for a blemish.
His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain the men of squeamish taste to entertain.
Definition 2024
squeamish
squeamish
English
Alternative forms
- sweamish, swaimish (dialectal)
- squeimish, squemish, squeamous (obsolete)
Adjective
squeamish (comparative more squeamish, superlative most squeamish)
- easily bothered or upset; tending to be nauseated or nervous; oversensitive
- He might have made a good doctor, had he not been so squeamish about the sight of blood.
- averse or reluctant
Translations
easily bothered or upset; tending to be nauseous or nervous
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