frowsty

[ frou-stee ]

adjective

, British Informal.

, frowst·i·er, frowst·i·est.

1. musty; ill-smelling.

frowsty

/ ˈfraʊstɪ /

adjective

1. ill-smelling; stale; musty

Derived Forms

• ˈfrowstiness, noun

Other Words From

• frowsti·ly adverb
• frowsti·ness 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.

From The Guardian

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

From The Guardian

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.

From The Guardian

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg