dowdy

Meaning

Adj

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

Noun

A plain or shabby person.

Verb

To press the crust into the filling during baking, to allow the juices to caramelize on top.

Synonyms

frumpish

frumpy

old-fashioned

shabby

tacky

pandowdy

fusty

nonprogressive

outmoded

out-of-date

passe

scruffy

seedy

shaggy

slovenly

standpat

stodgy

stuffy

tatty

unfashionable

old-hat

unprogressive

antediluvian

passee

antiquated

antique

dingy

dirty

drab

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdaʊdi/

Etymology

Late 16th century. Origin uncertain: probably literally “little poorly dressed woman,” formed from doue, “poorly dressed woman.”
Possibly also related to the Scots dow, meaning to "fade".