fidfadn.adj.
/ˈfɪdfad/ A. n.
a. One who gives fussy attention to trifles.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [noun] > fastidious person
abrodietical1623
hypercritic1634
over-critica1661
finick1706
delicate1710
finicking1744
fidfad1754
quiddle1793
faddle1881
faddy1887
perfectionist1909
Nice Nelly1922
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss > one who bustles or fusses > one who fusses about trifles
fidfad1754
niggler1781
busy idler1788
fiddle-faddler1846
1754 World No. 95 The youngest..is, in everything she does, an absolute fidfad.
b. A petty matter of detail, a crotchet.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial
gnatc1000
ball play?c1225
smalla1250
triflec1290
fly1297
child's gamec1380
motec1390
mitec1400
child's playc1405
trufferyc1429
toyc1450
curiosity1474
fly-winga1500
neither mass nor matins1528
boys' play1538
nugament1543
knack?1544
fable1552
nincety-fincety1566
mouse1584
molehill1590
coot1594
scoff1594
nidgery1611
pin matter1611
triviality1611
minuity1612
feathera1616
fillip1621
rattle1622
fiddlesticka1625
apex1625
rush candle1628
punctilio1631
rushlight1635
notchet1637
peppercorn1638
petty John1640
emptiness1646
fool-fangle1647
nonny-no1652
crepundian1655
fly-biting1659
pushpin1660
whinny-whanny1673
whiffle1680
straw1692
two and a plack1692
fiddle1695
trivial1715
barley-strawa1721
nothingism1742
curse1763
nihility1765
minutia1782
bee's knee1797
minutiae1797
niff-naff1808
playwork1824
floccinaucity1829
trivialism1830
chicken feed1834
nonsensical1842
meemaw1862
infinitesimality1867
pinfall1868
fidfad1875
flummadiddle1882
quantité négligeable1885
quotidian1902
pipsqueak1905
hickey1909
piddle1910
cream puff1920
squat1934
administrivia1937
chickenshit1938
cream puff1938
diddly-squat1963
non-issue1965
Tinkertoy1972
1875 E. Lynn Linton Patricia Kemball II. 31 The fidfads, called improvements, which were not wanted.
1881 B. W. Richardson in Good Words 22 52 He built himself a house, and fitted it with every fidfad that could be suggested.
B. adj.
Frivolous, fussy, petty.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > insubstantial > frivolous or not serious
frivolous?1563
lusorious1619
lusory1653
fribbling1654
fribblish1768
fribble1798
nidgetty1798
lightweight1809
fidfad1830
frivolling1882
footling1888
1830 R. Hill in E. Sidney Life (1834) 351 With the tinkling cymbal fid-fad musicians may try to tickle the fancy of such half-witted admirers.
1844 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 55 199 From exuberant 4to, down to the fid-fad concentration of 12mo.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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n.adj.1754