- musty
- musty (adj.) 1520s, perhaps a variant of moisty "moist, damp" (see MOIST (Cf. moist)). Related: Mustiness.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
musty
Look at other dictionaries:
Musty — Mus ty, a. [Compar. {Mustier}; superl. {Mustiest}.] [From L. mustum must; or perh. fr. E. moist. Cf. {Must}, n., {Moist}.] 1. Having the rank, pungent, offensive odor and taste which substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
musty — [adj1] stuffy, aged airless, ancient, antediluvian, antique, crumbling, dank, decayed, decrepit, dirty, dried out*, dry, fetid, filthy, frowzy*, malodorous, mildewed, mildewy, moldy, moth eaten*, noisome, old, putrid, rotten, smelly, spoiled,… … New thesaurus
musty — [mus′tē] adj. mustier, mustiest [< ? earlier moisty < MOIST] 1. having a stale, moldy smell or taste, as an unused room, food kept in a damp place, etc. 2. stale or trite; worn out; antiquated [musty ideas] 3. dull; apathetic mustily adv.… … English World dictionary
musty — index stale Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
musty — fusty, *malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, rancid Analogous words: *dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid: sloppy, *slipshod, unkempt, slovenly … New Dictionary of Synonyms
musty — ► ADJECTIVE (mustier, mustiest) 1) having a stale or mouldy smell or taste. 2) unoriginal or outdated. DERIVATIVES mustiness noun. ORIGIN perhaps an alteration of moisty moist … English terms dictionary
musty — [[t]mʌ̱sti[/t]] ADJ GRADED Something that is musty smells old and damp. There are racks of musty clothing and piles of junk. ...that terrible musty smell. Syn: fusty … English dictionary
musty — adjective a musty room, house, or object has a damp and unpleasant smell, because it is old and has not had any fresh air for a long time: musty old books | the stale musty smell of the attic mustiness noun (U) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
musty — UK [ˈmʌstɪ] / US adjective Word forms musty : adjective musty comparative mustier superlative mustiest smelling unpleasant and not fresh The room had a musty smell. Derived word: mustiness noun uncountable … English dictionary
musty — adjective (mustier; est) Etymology: 4must Date: 1530 1. a. impaired by damp or mildew ; moldy b. tasting of mold c. smelling of damp and decay ; fusty 2 … New Collegiate Dictionary
