frowzy, a.
(ˈfraʊzɪ)
Also 7–9 frouzy, 8–9 frowsy, (9 frousy).
[Perh. cognate with frowsty, or with some of the other words there referred to. Cf. also frowze n.]
1. Ill-smelling, fusty, musty; having a ‘close’ unpleasant smell from being dirty, unwashed, ill-ventilated, or the like.
| 1681 Otway Soldier's Fort. iv. i, An overgrown Deputy of the Ward, tho a frouzy Fellmonger. a 1700 Dryden quoted in Faction Displ. (1704) 15 With Frowzy Pores, that taint the ambient Air. 1773 Franklin Lett. Wks. 1840 VI. 400 It is the frouzy corrupt air from animal substances. a 1802 Strutt Bumpkin's Disaster (1808) 19 Is pinching frowzy wenches in their bed Fit sport for spirits? 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xvi, By the steams of moist acts of Parliament and frowsy petitions. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. ix, In his weeks my study was so frowsy I couldn't sit in it. 1871 L. Stephen Playgr. Eur. iv. iii. 252 Another Greek convent, said to be frowzier, if possible, than that of Csalho. |
2. Having a dirty, untidy, soiled, neglected appearance (like
e.g. unkempt hair); dingy, rusty, slatternly, unkempt. Of the complexion: Red and coarse, blowzy.
| 1710 Apparition 7 A frowzy high-crown'd Hat his face did hide. 1716 Swift Progr. Beauty Wks. 1755 III. ii. 163 A frowzy dirty-colour'd red Sits on her cloudy wrinkled face. 1752 J. Spence [Sir H. Beaumont] Crito 53 His Woman of a..sun-burnt frowsy Complexion. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. i. 214 See! on the floor, what frowzy patches rest! 1823 Blackw. Mag. XIV. 530 The frowzy hostess would complain. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop iii, Hair..hanging in a frowzy fringe about his forehead. 1848 ― Dombey vi, There were frowzy fields, and cowhouses..at the very door of the Railway. 1857 W. Collins Dead Secret ii. ii, [He] produced from the pocket..three frowsy acidulated drops. 1882 Chamb. Jrnl. 90 A pony would be shoving its frowzy brow against its master's shoulder. 1895 Gloss. E. Anglia, Frouzy, blouzy, with disordered and uncombed hair. |
| fig. 1821 Byron Juan iii. xciv, A drowzy frowzy poem, call'd the ‘Excursion’, Writ in a manner which is my aversion. 1859 Lang Wand. India 245 Even the frowsy military board—composed of several very old and feeble Company's officers of the last century—was frightened into something like activity. |
3. Comb., as
frowzy-headed adj.| 1860 Holland Miss Gilbert iv. 53 Frowzy-headed men passed him in the yard. 1875 Howells Foregone Concl. 60 A frowsy-headed woman. |
Hence
ˈfrowziness.
| 1714 Mandeville Fab. Bees ii. (1733) 41 The Frowsiness of the Place, and the ill Scents of different kinds, are a perpetual Nuisance. 1835 Beckford Recoll. 106 That species of high conventual frowziness which monastic habits and garments are not a little apt to engender. 1881 Daily News 7 Dec. 5/3 They regard..the frowziness of our [railway-carriage] accommodation with contempt. 1893 Temple Bar Mag. XCIX. 197 He loves to have his room reeking with heat and frowsiness. |