musty

¹ American  

[muhs-tee] / ˈmʌs ti /

adjective

mustier, mustiest

1. having an odor or flavor suggestive of mold, as old buildings, long-closed rooms, or stale food.

   Synonyms:

   stale, moldy, dank

2. obsolete; outdated; antiquated.

   musty laws.

3. dull; apathetic.

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musty ² American  

[muhs-tee] / ˈmʌs ti /

noun

plural

musties

1. (formerly) a kind of snuff having a musty flavor.

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musty British  

/ ˈmʌstɪ /

adjective

1. smelling or tasting old, stale, or mouldy

2. old-fashioned, dull, or hackneyed

   musty ideas

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Other Word Forms

• mustily adverb
• mustiness noun

Etymology

Origin of musty¹

1520–30; perhaps variant of moisty ( Middle English; moist, -y ¹ ) with loss of i before s as in master

Origin of musty²

First recorded in 1700–10; noun use of musty ¹

Example Sentences

He discovered that inside the cave was a soft feather mattress, somewhat old and musty, but still bliss to lie upon.

From Literature

Edith Wharton is a moth-eaten gown in the musty attic of American literature.

From The Wall Street Journal

As soon as we entered its musty warmth, he slumped onto a mat next to another sleeping boy.

From Literature

I’ll set up my headquarters in Gran’s musty house on Millionaires’ Row.

From Literature

You always knew the menagerie was nearby because the smell turned from swampy to wood shavings, wet fur, and assorted musty scents.

From Literature

Related Words

• airless
• ancient
• crumbling
• dank
• decrepit
• fetid
• moldy
• putrid
• smelly
• squalid
• stale
• stuffy