Lily-handed

adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Characterised by a delicate and pale-skinned beauty.

    "For the sake of these "lily-handed maidens so daintily occupied," to use the editor's words, and for their sakes alone, has he waded through so many pages of dense technicalities from Actinococcus to Wormskioldia."

  2. 2
    Having hands that are white due to lack of outdoor work; Unaccustomed to physical labor.

    "“Let me see your passport,” said old Bill, “I mean your hand.” He was looking for the marks of toil. Alas, sometimes for a lily-handed parson!"

  3. 3
    Fastidious and foppish.

    "In fact he was a shallow-brained, lily-handed fop, and, as may be supposed, a great favorite with a certain class of ladies who mistake impertinence for wit, and fine clothes and affected manners for refinement and solid accomplishments."

Etymology

From lily + handed, from the white color and delicacy of a lily.

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