From a cut down version of Cinderella, in which the eponymous character is described as having dainty feet.
On the spot answer: “It means small, honey”
Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Hmm… I clearly missed the connotations, which I knew I did, but it clearly doesn’t mean “small”. Maybe the meaning has shifted in the last 100 years?
marked by delicate or diminutive beauty, form, or grace
OK, diminutive I guess. But it’s a stretch.
Final grade: fail.
As an aside, it looks like the primary meanings of “dainty” have to do with food and physical taste (as opposed to taste in clothing, etc):
especially pleasing to the taste;
n : something considered choice to eat
Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.
1 a: tasting good : tasty b: attractively prepared and served
It was already pretty clear the Prince was rocking a decent foot fetish, but this new view of the word dainty pushes it into the realm of “get out of the house!” It does explain “Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?” better than I’ve ever understood it before…