frowsy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   dirty, neglected, and untidy in appearance

   The corridor was frowsy, dim, and littered with old newspapers.

2. 2
   adj

   stale, stuffy, or unpleasant-smelling

   Opening the windows cleared the frowsy air from the unused room.

Recorded from the late seventeenth century and of uncertain origin, perhaps related to dialectal frowsty, 'stale-smelling or stuffy.' The spelling frowzy is an established variant. The smell sense broadened to describe a dingy, neglected, or slovenly appearance.

Topics