dowdy

See also: 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^(key): /ˈdaʊdi/, /ˈdoudē/

Rhymes: -aʊdi

Adjective

dowdy (comparative dowdier, superlative dowdiest)

Plain and unfashionable in style or dress.
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

Derived terms

Translations

plain and unfashionable in style or dress

Finnish: tyylitön
French: vieux jeu (fr)
German: schäbig (de), unelegant

Greek: κακοντυμένος (el) (kakontyménos)
Russian: немо́дный (ru) (nemódnyj), неэлега́нтный (neelegántnyj), безвку́сный (ru) (bezvkúsnyj)
Turkish: hırpani (tr), pejmürde (tr), yırtık pırtık (tr)

lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby

Finnish: tyylitön, mauton (fi), nuhjuinen (fi)
German: abgetragen (de), schäbig (de)
Russian: неэлега́нтный (neelegántnyj)

Spanish: desaliñado (es) m
Turkish: eski püskü, pejmürde (tr)

Noun

dowdy (plural dowdies)

A plain or shabby woman.

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