a. Also 6–8 squallid, 7 -ed. [ad. L. squālid-us, f. squālēre to be dry, rough, dirty, etc. So It. squallido, OF. squalide, scalide, Pg. esqualido.]
I. 1. Naturally foul and repulsive by the presence of slime, mud, etc., and the absence of all cultivation or care.
1591. Spenser, Virg. Gnat, 543. The squalid lakes of Tartarie, And griesly Feends of hell him terrifie.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 565. Those that seek for Inspirations and Revelations in By-holes amongst the squallid Sepulchers of the dead.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 686. All these Cocytus bounds with squalid Reeds, With muddy Ditches, and with deadly Weeds.
1743. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, II. ix. I. 221. Nor everlasting Rain deforms The squalid Fields.
1887. Ruskin, Præterita, II. 150. No squalid fields of mud and thistles.
b. In general use: Repulsive or loathsome to look at.
1620. Dekker, Dreame (1860), 31. Then clapping their obstreperous squallid wings, Each of them on the frozen ruffian dings Such bitter blasts.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), III. 211. The skin will … be covered over with ecthyma, impetigo, or some other squalid eruption.
2. Foul through neglect or want of cleanliness; repulsively mean and filthy: a. Of clothing.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. i. 13. They saw a Squire in squallid weed, Lamenting sore his sorrowfull sad tyne.
1616. Chapman, Homer’s Hymn Pan, 131. Although a God he were Clad in a squallid sheepskinn.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, III. i. Nor come I as a slave, Pinioned and fettered, in a squalid weed.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XVII. 412. A figure despicable, old, and poor, In squalid vests, with many a gaping rent.
b. Of dwellings or similar places.
1628. T. May, in Le Grys, Barclay’s Argenis, 107. Those valiant Chiefes … In a darke squallid Dungeon must not dye.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 3 Aug. 1654. ’Tis a squalid den made in the rock.
1829. Lytton, Disowned, 53. Some squalid and obscure quarter of the city.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 198. The general appearance of the room, however, though dingy, was not squalid.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xii. The squalid taverns and lodging houses of the poorest of that vast and mongrel populace.
c. Of persons, their appearance, etc.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, III. App. lxii. Why gaze you thus on my sad squalid face.
1662. Hibbert, Body Divinity, II. 17. When God beholds us as we are in our selves we appear vile and squallid.
1729. Shelvocke, Artillery, V. 338. Together with the Inferior Prisoners all Dirty, Dejected, Squallid, and as it were half starved.
1780. Mirror, No. 70. The squalid and death-like appearance of the good old man.
1834. Pringle, Afr. Sk., 302. The prisoners … exhibited a strange array of wild and swarthy visages, squalid with neglect and misery.
1847. Emerson, Poems, Monadnoc, Wks. (Bohn), I. 433. Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?
1875. Farrar, Silence & Voices, Ser. I. 5. The poorest and most squalid savage.
absol. 1840. Hood, Kilmansegg, Marriage, xiii. Bravely she shone … As she sailed through the crowd of squalid and poor.
Comb. 1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. iv. Phantasms, squalid-horrid, shaking their dirk and muff.
3. Of qualities, conditions, etc.: Marked or characterized by filth, dirt or squalor.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. II. v. Winter is like vnto it, vgly, foule, squalid.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 242. Out of squallid wantonnesse they would overcharge their wide mouthes with pelo or other meat.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 579. Strange! that a creature rational … should … prefer Such squalid sloth to honourable toil!
1822. Shelley, Chas. I., I. 163. Here is health Followed by grim disease,… wealth by squalid want.
1849. Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, xvii. While squalid poverty grovels in between.
1875. Helps, Soc. Press., iii. 51. Without which in great towns the life of man will always be barbarous, squalid, and most unsatisfactory.
4. fig. Wretched, miserable, morally repulsive or degraded.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), I. 277. To giue a luster unto the author and his squalled inuentions.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. 1808, VIII. 313. The rest of the squalid tribe of the representatives of degraded kings.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Literature. Squalid contentment with conventions … betray[s] the ebb of life and spirit.
1890. Spectator, 16 Aug., 200/2. What a morally squalid Session we have had!
II. † 5. Dry, parched; marked by drought. Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 541. In a marrish and weeping ground no grasse is brought forth neither yet in a squallid and hot soile.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. i. I. i. If the earth be barren then for want of raine, if dry and squalid, it yeeld no fruit.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 194. They are great in autumne, and are best in a squalid yeare.
† 6. Rough; shaggy; unkempt. Obs.
1628. Burton, Anat. Mel. (ed. 3), I. iii. II. iv. 193. The skin is many times rough, squalid, especially … about the armes.
1631. P. Fletcher, Piscatory Eclog., vi. [Diana] with a mighty spear Flings down a bristled bore, or els a squalid bear.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, 3. Divers of those [young trees] which are found in Woods … being overdripp’d become squalid and mossie.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., i. 17. I do not by this deny them to be poor, any more than I should deny a man to have a squalid beard by not shaving him.
7. Having a pinched and miserable appearance. Of complexion: Having a dull unhealthy look.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 225. Sprats. They are squalid, leane, and not of copious aliment.
1753. Scots Mag., Oct., 516/1. Such as were of a squallid, or pale swarthy complexion.
a. 1776. R. James, Fevers (1778), 123. [It causes] an uneasy sensation on the left side,… attended with a squalid countenance.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 31. Loaves made of adulterated flour are always low and squalid; i. e. they appear small for their weight.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, li. His complexion sallow and squalid.
Hence Squalidly adv.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Walk round Lond., Upon Compters, Wks. 1709, III. III. 53. Their Dress [was] squallidly neglected.
1847. Webster, Squalidly, in a squalid, filthy manner.
