shabby

adjective

appearing aged or worn

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈʃæbi/

adj

Etymology: The adjective is derived from shab (“(obsolete except UK, dialectal) scaly skin disease; skin disease of sheep; crust forming over wound, scab”) + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’ forming adjectives). The verb is derived from the adjective. Cognates * Dutch schabbig (“poor, needy, shabby”) * Middle High German schebic (modern German schäbig (“shabby”)) * Middle Low German schabbich (“miserable”) (modern Low German schabbig, schäbbig) * Scots shabby (“in poor health, ill”) * Swedish sjabbig (“shabby, mangy, scruffy”), skabbig (“scabby”)

Of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect; scruffy.
“They lived in a tiny apartment, with some old, shabby furniture.”
“[A]s there was a stream of people pouring into a shabby house not far from the entrance, he waited until they had made their way in, […]”
Of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing.
“The fellow arrived looking rather shabby after journeying so far.”
“The ſame gentleman, vvhenever he vvanted credit for a ſuit of cloaths, alvvays made the propoſal in a laced coat; for he found by experience, that, if he appeared ſhabby on theſe occaſions, his taylor had taken an oath againſt truſting; […]”
Of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean; also, not generous; stingy, tight-fisted.
“shabby treatment”
“"A thousand dollars are money, my father used to say when he drove fat oxen to market," replied John Wilde, in a mocking tone; "but it will not leave my hands for that shabby price; and, for my own part, it may ornament the foot of my daughter's doll."”
Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.
“His painting is not too shabby.”
“[M]y Lord Duke's entertainments were both ſeldom and ſhabby […]”
Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.
Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.
Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.

verb

To make (something) shabby (adjective sense 1); to shabbify.
To become shabby; to shabbify.
“You'll be one of those tough, square, solid middle-aged men, like a shabbying brown bear, your golden crew-cut greying judiciously at the temples.”