nasty

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Very unpleasant or disgusting.

   There was a nasty smell coming from the drain.

2. 2
   adj

   Unkind, cruel, or spiteful.

   Don't be so nasty to your little brother.

3. 3
   adj

   Serious, severe, or dangerous.

   She took a nasty fall on the icy steps.

From Middle English nasty, nasti, naxty, naxte (“unclean, filthy”), whence also Early Modern English nasky (“nasty”), of obscure origin. Probably from earlier Middle English *naskty, *naskedy, from Middle English *nasked (“dirty, messy”) + -y, ultimately of North Germanic origin (comparable to Danish nasket (“dirty, foul, unpleasant”), Swedish naskot (“dirty, filthy”), Swedish naskig, naskug (“nasty, dirty, messy”)), themselves all probably related to Proto-Germanic *hnaskuz (“tender, soft”). Likely doublet of nesh and nosh. Cognate with Scots nastie, nestie (“dirty, filthy”). Alternative theo…

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