frowstier

Adjective

frowsty (comparative frowstier, superlative frowstiest)

1. (UK, dialectal) Of an atmosphere: not fresh; close, musty, stuffy; of an object: having a musty, stale odour.
   • He thought of getting back by half-past twelve, / And tot of rum to send him warm to sleep / In draughty dug-out frowsty with the fumes / Of coke, and full of snoring, weary men.1917 May, Siegfried Sassoon, “A Working Party”, in The Old Huntsman and Other Poems, London: William Heinemann, published January 1918, →OCLC, stanza 6, page 29

   Synonyms:

   frowsy, frowzy, fusty

2. (UK, dialectal) Of a person: dull, slow; also, unkempt, untidy.
   • A window opened above the shop, and a frowsty-looking man, yellow-pale, was quickly and nervously hauling in the national flag. There were shouts of derision and mockery—a great overtone of acrid derision—the flag and its owner ignominiously disappeared.1918–1921 (date written), D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “XX Settembre”, in Aaron’s Rod, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Seltzer, published April 1922, →OCLC, page 215

   Synonyms:

   frowsy, frowzy