dowdy
pronunciation
How to pronounce dowdy in British English:
UK [ˈdaʊdi]
How to pronounce dowdy in American English:
US [ˈdaʊdi]
-
- Noun:
- deep-dish apple dessert covered with a rich crust
-
- Adjective:
- lacking in smartness or taste
- primly out of date
Word Origin
- dowdy
- 1580s (n.), "an aukward, ill-dressed, inelegant woman" [Johnson]; 1670s (adj.), perhaps a diminutive of doue "poorly dressed woman" (early 14c.), which is of uncertain origin. The modern use of dowd (n.) is most likely a back-formation from dowdy. "If plaine or homely, wee saie she is a doudie or a slut" [Barnabe Riche, "Riche his Farewell to Militarie profession," 1581].You don't have to be dowdy to be a Christian. [Tammy Faye Bakker, "Newsweek," June 8, 1987] Related: Dowdily; dowdiness.
Example
- 1. She looked a dowdy and very plain young woman .
- 2. She felt dowdy as she came through the door .
- 3. So should attractive women simply attach photos that make them look dowdy ?
- 4. Their auto style may be dowdy today but in china , tomorrow is always just around the corner .
- 5. Dowdy on the outside , its entrance is a riotous stairway to arts and crafts heaven .