grotty, a. slang.
(ˈgrɒtɪ)
[Shortened form of grotesque a. + -y1.]
Unpleasant, dirty, nasty, ugly, etc.: a general term of disapproval.
| 1964 J. Burke Hard Day's Night iv. 88 ‘I wouldn't be seen dead in them. They're dead grotty.’ Marshall stared. ‘Grotty?’ ‘Yeah—grotesque.’ 1964 Daily Mail 18 Aug. 1/6, I felt dead grotty. 1964 Sunday Times 25 Oct. 22/5 A charming touchline companion called the [hockey] match ‘grotty’ which seemingly means disappointing. 1966 M. Hastings Cork on Telly ii. 29 I've been checking my tapes... They sound pretty grotty when they're scrambled. 1967 House & Garden Apr. 59/3 The house was a ruin—dirty, really grotty, but with obvious potential. 1970 Times 19 June 10/4 ‘I don't like the grotty old pub,’ says Miss McCormick. |
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Add: Hence ˈgrottiness n.
| 1984 Financial Times 6 Oct. 15/7 The grottiness of the room in which their under-graduate son or daughter is proposing to spend the next eight months or so. 1988 N.Y. Times 8 Mar. c13/4 ‘Why do you write so much of grottiness?’ asked a radio interviewer of a current poet. |