frowsty

[ frou-stee ]
See synonyms for frowsty on Thesaurus.com
adjective,frowst·i·er, frowst·i·est.British Informal.
  1. musty; ill-smelling.

Origin of frowsty

1
First recorded in 1860–65; perhaps dialectal variant of frowzy

Other words from frowsty

  • frowst·i·ly, adverb
  • frowst·i·ness, noun

Words Nearby frowsty

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use frowsty in a sentence

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

    Plashers Mead | Compton Mackenzie
  • For there are frowsty children, just as there are frowsty adults, who dont want freedom.

  • A window opened above the shop, and a frowsty-looking man, yellow-pale, was quickly and nervously hauling in the national flag.

    Aaron's Rod | D. H. Lawrence
  • "Really, my frowsty old Camembert, don't ask us to believe that they had all overlooked it," expostulated Frederick.

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

    Guy and Pauline | Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for frowsty

frowsty

/ (ˈfraʊstɪ) /


adjective-stier or -stiest
  1. ill-smelling; stale; musty

Derived forms of frowsty

  • frowstiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012