\Squeam"ish\, a. [OE. squaimous, sweymous, probably
from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf.
Icel. svemr a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim a hovering about, a
sickness that comes upon one, Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS.
sw[=i]mi. The word has been perhaps confused witrh qualmish.
Cf. {Swim} to be dizzy.]
Having a stomach that is easily 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.