dowdy

English

Etymology

Late 16th century. Origin uncertain: probably literally “little poorly dressed woman,” formed from doue “poorly dressed woman.”

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: dou'dē, IPA: /ˈdaʊdi/, X-SAMPA: /"daUdi/

• Rhymes: -aʊdi

Adjective

dowdy (comparative dowdier, superlative dowdiest)

1. Plain and unfashionable in style or dress.
2. Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby.
   • 1891, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

     [...she was] a perfect saint amongst women, but so dreadfully dowdy that she reminded one of a badly bound hymn-book.

Derived terms

• dowdify
• dowdily
• dowdiness

Translations

plain and unfashionable in style or dress

• Finnish: tyylitön (fi)
• French: vieux jeu (fr)

• Russian: немодный (ru) (nemódnyj), неэлегантный (ru) (neelegántnyj), безвкусный (ru) (bezvkúsnyj)

lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby

• Finnish: tyylitön (fi), mauton (fi), nuhjuinen (fi)
• French: sans élégance

• Russian: неэлегантный (ru) (neelegántnyj)