squeamish English · revision 1256

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈskwiːmɪʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English ''squaymisch'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a variant, with the suffix [[-ish]], of ''squaymous'' “disdainful, fastidious”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[der|xno|escoymous]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which is of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Physically repelled; excessively fastidious (before 1398).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Chaucer used ''squaymous'' of someone fastidious about bodily matters.^(Etymonline) The sense of being easily nauseated is from about 1450,^(OED 1989) and the Century Dictionary, cited by Etymonline, suggests that the sense “slightly sick” was influenced by ''qualmish''.^(Etymonline) The sense of being easily shocked or prudish is first recorded in 1567,^(Barnhart 1995) and of excessive moral scruple later.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1330 – ''squeymous'', disdainful.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1398 – easily nauseated; fastidious.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1553 – averse or unwilling, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1567 – easily shocked, prudish.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1660 – slightly nauseated.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easily made sick or disgusted, as at the sight of blood.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Easily shocked or offended; [[prudish]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Excessively scrupulous or [[fastidious]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Feeling sick; [[nauseated]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[squeamishly]]

+ * [[squeamishness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[queasy]]

+ * [[qualmish]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''modest'', ''finical'', ''finicky'', ''delicate'' and ''exacting'' as synonyms, and ''bold'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}