Crossword clues for dowdy
dowdy
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Dowdy \Dow"dy\, a. [Compar. Dowdier; superl. Dowdiest.] [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.
Dowdy \Dow"dy\, n.; pl. Dowdies.
An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman.
--Shak.
Dryden.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1580s (n.), "an aukward, ill-dressed, inelegant woman" [Johnson]; 1670s (adj.), perhaps a diminutive of doue "poorly dressed woman" (early 14c.), which is of uncertain origin. The modern use of dowd (n.) is most likely a back-formation from dowdy. "If plaine or homely, wee saie she is a doudie or a slut" [Barnabe Riche, "Riche his Farewell to Militarie profession," 1581].You don't have to be dowdy to be a Christian. [Tammy Faye Bakker, "Newsweek," June 8, 1987]\nRelated: Dowdily; dowdiness.
Wiktionary
a. 1 plain and unfashionable in style or dress. 2 Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby.
WordNet
adj. lacking in smartness or taste; "a dowdy gray outfit"; "a clean and sunny but completely dowdy room"
primly out of date; "nothing so frumpish as last year's gambling game" [syn: frumpy, frumpish]
n. British marshal of the RAF who commanded the British air defense forces that defeated the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain (1882-1970) [syn: Dowding, Hugh Dowding, Baron Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding]
deep-dish apple dessert covered with a rich crust [syn: pandowdy]
Wikipedia
Dowdy is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
- Adam Dowdy (born 1975), American baseball umpire
- Bill Dowdy (born 1933), American musician
- Cecil Dowdy (1945–2002), American football player
- Helen Dowdy, American actress
- Homer Dowdy (1922–2002), American writer
- Joe D. Dowdy, American military officer
- John Dowdy (1912–1995), American politician
- Nancy M. Dowdy, American nuclear physicist
- Wayne Dowdy (born 1943), American politician
Usage examples of "dowdy".
Whatever it was that had put Dowdy in such good spirits seemed to be contagious.
At last he made a slashing gesture, signaling that he was finished, and Dowdy turned to them.
As soon as Dowdy had gone, Richard asked Lisa if she wanted a last look at the weaving before heading back, but she told him she would like to meet Murcielago.
Murcielago fumbled for something under his blanket, and Dowdy glanced back and forth between Richard and Lisa.
When at last she opened them, Dowdy was helping Murcielago to his feet.
As soon as I come out of the place, I find that Silk Dowdy has trailed Martin Powell.
Through those who have met the little boats from the rum ships, you have gained the help of Silk Dowdy and those other men who are watching Legira.
At the sight of that ominous form, with its fist-gripped automatics, Silk Dowdy barked a spontaneous command.
Pete Ballou, who had reached the front steps with Silk Dowdy, issued a sharp command.
Pete Ballou and Silk Dowdy, standing outside, saw their men come sprawling forth.
As The Shadow waited by the stairs, door burst open and Silk Dowdy leaped into view.
While Silk Dowdy was still scrambling for his revolver, The Shadow leaped up the stairs toward the third floor.
I need, because they seem to be a very dull, dowdy set of people who almost never come to London, on account of not approving of modern manners.
In point of fact, she had never been called upon to supply her ladyship with so much as a lace cap, but she knew who she was, and that however dowdy she might be she moved in the first circles.
The dapper desk clerk crossed an indolent leg to show off a foot shod in English leather and looked round the dowdy circle with a condescending smile.