# dowdy

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈdaʊdi/ · frequency rank #58,651

## Definitions
1. Plain and unfashionable in style or dress.
2. Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby.

## Etymology
First appears c. 1581. Origin uncertain, probably literally "little poorly dressed woman," formed from doue, "poorly dressed woman". Possibly also related to the Scots dow, meaning to "fade".

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dowdy