1a : neat and trim in appearance looked very dapper in their uniforms. b : very spruce and stylish a dapper new suit. 2 : alert and lively in movement and manners a dapper old gentleman.

What did dapper used to mean?

mid-15c., "elegant, neat, trim," from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German dapper "bold, strong, sturdy," later "quick, nimble," from Proto-Germanic *dapraz (source also of Old High German tapfar "heavy," German tapfer "brave"), perhaps with ironical shift of meaning, from PIE root *dheb- "dense, firm, compressed."

What do you call a dapper person?

“a dapper young man” synonyms: dashing, jaunty, natty, raffish, rakish, snappy, spiffy, spruce fashionable, stylish.