grotty

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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• Rhymes: -ɒti

Etymology 1

Clipping of grotesque +‎ -y. Doublet of grody, the American equivalent. Compare Middle English groti, grooti (“slimy, muddy”), from Old English grotiġ (“earthy, dirty”) (modern dialectal English groaty, Scots grotty), which is equivalent to groat +‎ -y. Compare also Scottish Gaelic grod (“rotten, lousy, terrible”), Middle Irish grot (“bitter, sour”).

Originated or popularised by the 1964 film A Hard Day's Night, starring the Beatles and written by Alun Owen.

Adjective

grotty (comparative grottier, superlative grottiest)

1. (slang, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) Unpleasant, dirty, slovenly or offensive.
   • 1964, Alun Owen, A Hard Day's Night:

     George: I wouldn't be seen dead in them. They're dead grotty.
     
     Simon: Grotty?
     
     George: Yeah, grotesque.

Synonyms

• grody
• gross
• gro

Related terms

• grody

Etymology 2

See groaty.

Adjective

grotty (comparative grottier or more grotty, superlative grottiest or most grotty)

1. Alternative form of groaty