First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
fusty
adjective fus·ty \ˈfəs-tē\
: full of dust and unpleasant smells : not fresh
: very old-fashioned
fus·ti·erfus·ti·est
Full Definition of FUSTY
1
British : impaired by age or dampness : moldy
2
: saturated with dust and stale odors : musty
3
: rigidly old-fashioned or reactionary
— fus·ti·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb
— fus·ti·ness \-tē-nəs\ noun
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Origin of FUSTY
probably alteration of Middle English foisted, foist musty, from foist wine cask, from Anglo-French fust, fuist wood, tree trunk, cask, from Medieval Latin fustis
Related to FUSTY
Synonym Discussion of FUSTY
malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling. malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive <malodorous fertilizers>. stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting <prisoners were held in stinking cells> <the fetid odor of skunk cabbage>. noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive <a stagnant, noisome sewer>. putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter <the putrid smell of rotting fish>. rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell <rank cigar smoke>. fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age <a fusty attic> <the musty odor of a damp cellar>.
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