frowsty

[frou-stee]

adjective

British Informal.

frowstier, frowstiest 

1. musty; ill-smelling.

frowsty

/ ˈfraʊstɪ /

adjective

1. ill-smelling; stale; musty

Other Word Forms

• frowstily adverb
• frowstiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frowsty¹

First recorded in 1860–65; perhaps dialectal variant of frowzy

Example Sentences

Kids will continue to play and watch, drawn to the accoutred frowsty barn with its nets and stumps by family or school or the basic joy of bat and ball.

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In a frowsty office a man sits in front of a broken computer.

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I loved the frowsty look of my fellow-passengers, their faces creased by the ivory light, their clothes lying dishevelled on the dark red moquette.

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She opened the back door, and he followed her into the frowsty passage.

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"I can't understand what consolation you expect to find by shutting yourself up with a lot of frowsty monks," said Guy, fretfully.

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