adj. (shabbier, shabbiest) 1 in bad repair or condition; faded and worn, dingy, dilapidated. 2 dressed in old or worn clothes. 3 of poor quality. 4 contemptible, dishonourable (a shabby trick). shabbily adv. shabbiness n. shabbyish adj.
[ shab scab f. OE sceabb f. ON, rel. to SCAB ]