Squeam″ish (skwēm″ĭsh), a. [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 squeamish
That takes a basting for a blemish. Hudibras.
His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain
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, n.