ratty

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   informal, especially US: old, worn, dirty, or in poor condition

   He arrived carrying a ratty suitcase with one broken clasp.

2. 2
   adj

   informal: annoyed or irritable

   Everyone grew ratty after waiting in the heat for an hour.

3. 3
   adj

   resembling or characteristic of a rat

   A ratty scratching sound came from behind the wall.

Formed from rat + -y. The literal sense means ratlike or associated with rats; the shabby and irritable senses developed through negative associations with the animal.

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