a. Also 7–9 frouzy, 8–9 frowsy, (9 frousy). [Perh. cognate with FROWSTY, or with some of the other words there referred to. Cf. also FROWZE sb.]
1. Ill-smelling, fusty, musty; having a ‘close’ unpleasant smell from being dirty, unwashed, ill-ventilated, or the like.
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., IV. i. An overgrown Deputy of the Ward, tho’ a frouzy Fellmonger.
a. 1700. Dryden, quoted in Faction Displ. (1704), 15. With Frowzy Pores, that taint the ambient Air.
1773. Franklin, Lett., Wks. 1840, VI. 400. It is the frouzy corrupt air from animal substances.
a. 1802. Strutt, Bumpkin’s Disaster (1808), 19. Is pinching frowzy wenches in their bed Fit sport for spirits?
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xvi. By the steams of moist acts of Parliament and frowsy petitions.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. ix. In his weeks my study was so frowsy, I couldn’t sit in it.
1871. L. Stephen, Playgr. Europe, iv. III. 252. A visit to another Greek convent, said to be frowzier, if possible, than that of Csalho.
2. Having a dirty, untidy, soiled, neglected appearance (like e.g., unkempt hair); dingy, rusty, slatternly, unkempt. Of the complexion: Red and coarse, blowzy.
1710. Apparition, 5.
| A frowzy high-crown’d Hat his Face did hide, | |
| A hooked Staff his tott’ring Steps did guide, | |
| A Bunch of various Keys hung jangling by his Side. |
1716. Swift, Progr. Beauty, Wks. 1755, III. II. 163. A frowzy dirty-colour’d red Sits on her cloudy wrinkled face.
1752. J. Spence [Sir H. Beaumont], Crito, 53. His Woman of a … sun-burnt frowsy Complexion.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. 214. See! on the floor, what frowzy patches rest!
1823. Blackw. Mag., XIV. Nov., 530/1.
| The frowzy hostess would complain, | |
| But deems it wiser to refrain, | |
| Pardoning th’ entrance of dead guest, | |
| In favour of the living rest. |
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, iii. Hair … hanging in a frowzy fringe about his forehead. Ibid. (1848), Dombey, vi. There were frowzy fields, and cowhouses … at the very door of the Railway.
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret, I. II. ii. 96. [He] produced from the pocket of his trousers three frowsy acidulated drops looking very much the worse for wear, and, attacking Miss Amelia on the weak, or greedy side of her character, artfully offered the drops, in exchange for confidential information on the subject of seven times eight.
1882. Chamb. Jrnl., 90. A pony would be shoving its frowzy brow against its master’s shoulder.
1895. Gloss. E. Anglia, Frouzy, blouzy, with disordered and uncombed hair.
fig. 1821. Byron, Juan, III. xciv. A drowzy frowzy poem, call’d the ‘Excursion,’ Writ in a manner which is my aversion.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 245. I spoke in a tone so decided that even the frowsy military board—composed of several very old and feeble Company’s officers of the last century—was frightened into something like activity.
3. Comb., as frowzy-headed adj.
1860. Holland, Miss Gilbert, iv. 53. Frowzy-headed men passed him in the yard.
1875. Howells, Foregone Concl., 60. A frowsy-headed woman.
Hence Frowziness.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1729), II. 41. The Frowsiness of the Place, and the ill Scents of different kinds, are a perpetual Nuisance.
1835. Beckford, Recoll., 106. An effluvia, neither of jasmine nor roses—in short, that species of high conventual frowziness which monastic habits and garments are not a little apt to engender, affected my lay nerves most disagreeably.
1881. Daily News, 7 Dec., 5/3. They regard … the frowziness of our [railway-carriage] accommodation with contempt.
1893. Temple Bar Mag., XCIX. Oct., 197. He loves to have his room reeking with heat and frowsiness.
