A
dandy (also known as a
beau or
gallant) is a man who places particular importance upon
physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of
self. Historically, especially in late 18th- and early 19th-century
Britain, a dandy, who was self-made, often strove to imitate an
aristocratic lifestyle despite coming from a
middle-class background.