Squēam'ish, a.

a. [From qualmish. See QUALM.] Having a stomach that is easily turned, or that readily nauseates any thing; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties; scrupulous. 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. Syn.—Fastidious; dainty; over-nice; scrupulous. See FASTIDIOUS.