Dowdy, a. [Compar. Dowdier; superl. Dowdiest.]
Etymology: [Scot. dawdie slovenly, daw, da sluggard, drab, Prov. E. dowd flat, dead.]
Showing a vulgar taste in dress; awkward and slovenly in dress; vulgar-looking. -- Dow"di*ly, adv. -- Dow"di*ness, n.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Dowdy, n.; pl. Dowdies (.
An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman. Shak. Dryden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists dowdy only as an antonym, under neat.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given