musty 1
— mustily , adv. — mustiness , n.
/mus"tee/ , adj., mustier, mustiest .
1. having an odor or flavor suggestive of mold, as old buildings, long-closed rooms, or stale food.
2. obsolete; outdated; antiquated: musty laws.
3. dull; apathetic.
[ 1520-30; perh. var. of moisty (ME; see MOIST, -Y 1 ) with loss of i before s as in master ]
Syn. 1. dank, moldy, stale.
musty 2
/mus"tee/ , n. , pl. musties .
(formerly) a kind of snuff having a musty flavor.
[ 1700-10; n. use of MUSTY 1 ]