shabby en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈʃæbi/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
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”)
Meanings
-
Of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect; scruffy.
[T]hings got shabbier and got shabbier summer after summer. The mat was fading; the wall-paper was flapping. You couldn't tell any more that those were roses on it. Still, if every door in a house is left perpetually open, and no lockmaker in the whole of Scotland can mend a bolt, things must spoil.
1927 May, Virginia Woolf, chapter 5, in To the Lighthouse (Uniform Edition of the Works of Virginia Woolf), new edition, London: Leonard and Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, […], published 1930, →OCLC, part I (The Window), page 47:[C]ommonplace books are generally new, or at least in fine bindings. And here was a shabby little old book, such as, if it had been commonplace, would not have been likely to be the companion of a young lady at the bottom of a quarry— […]
1867, George MacDonald, “The Bishop’s Basin”, in Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood […], volume I, London: Hurst and Blackett, publishers, successors to Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 154:[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, […]
1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, “Nicholas seeks to employ himself in a New Capacity, and being unsuccessful, accepts an engagement as Tutor in a Private Family”, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 143:Miss Phyllis Morgan, as the hapless heroine dressed in the shabbiest of clothes, appears in the midst of a gay and giddy throng; she apostrophises all and sundry there, including the villain, and has a magnificent scene which always brings down the house, and nightly adds to her histrionic laurels.
1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Affair at the Novelty Theatre”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:[They] lived […] in one of the shabbiest streets in the debatable land between Pimlico and Chelsea—by courtesy, South Belgravia.
1882, [Mary Elizabeth Braddon], “‘And Pale from the Past We Draw nigh Thee’”, in Mount Royal […], volume II, London: John and Robert Maxwell […], →OCLC, page 179:They lived in a tiny apartment, with some old, shabby furniture.
Another place where, from the aesthetic point of view, a long tunnel would have been a real blessing, is East London as viewed from the carriage window on the old Great Eastern line. Despite a vast change from crowded slums to tracts of wasteland, due to its grim wartime experience, this approach still provides a shabby and unworthy introduction to the great capital.
1951 October, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in The Railway Magazine, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 703:
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Of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing.
The fellow arrived looking rather shabby after journeying so far.
She told her name, and vvas ſhevvn, by a little ſhabby foot-boy, into a parlour.
1782, [Frances Burney], “A Man of Wealth”, in Cecilia, or Memoirs of an Heiress. […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Payne and Son […], and T[homas] Cadell […], →OCLC, book II, page 156:He was an affectionate brother, always glad to do a good turn to his sisters—who lived with a shabby old half-pay father, […]
1882, [Mary Elizabeth Braddon], “And Pale from the Past We Draw Nigh to Thee”, in Mount Royal […], volume II, London: John and Robert Maxwell […], →OCLC, page 179: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; […]
1765, [Oliver] Goldsmith, “Essay V”, in Essays. […], London: […] W[illiam] Griffin […], →OCLC, page 37:
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(figuratively) Of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean; also, not generous; stingy, tight-fisted.
I, being more of a native, and familiar with their customs, knew that this shabby present was an insult to us.
1857, David Livingstone, chapter III, in Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 68:"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."
1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 316:It was voted a shabby excuse.
1856, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “Of the Loves of Mr. Perkins and Miss Gorgon, and of the Two Great Factions in the Town of Oldborough”, in “The Bedford-Street Conspiracy”, in Miscellanies: Prose and Verse, volume III, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], →OCLC, page 473:shabby treatment
What shabby things a man will do when he's eaten up with jealousy! But what a comfort those shabby things are to him! […] I'm disgusted with myself for having stooped to such a contemptible act.
1892 January 4 (first performance), W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, librettist; Alfred Cellier, [Ivan Caryll], composers, […] The Mountebanks, London: Chappell & Co., […], published 1892, →OCLC, Act I, page 11:
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(figuratively, qualifier:often in the negative) Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.
[M]y Lord Duke's entertainments were both ſeldom and ſhabby […]
1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “The Campaign of 1707, 1708”, in The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. […] , volume II, London: […] Smith, Elder, & Company, […], →OCLC, page 252:So unlooked-for a paradox required to be defended by the strongest arguments: who, then, would expect such shabby, not arguments, but hints of arguments, as the author presents us with?
1865, John Stuart Mill, “Of Some Minor Peculiarities of Doctrine in Sir William Hamilton’s View of Formal Logic”, in An Examination of Sir William Hamilton’s Philosophy, […], London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green, →OCLC, page 448:His painting is not too shabby.
- (archaic, figuratively, qualifier:often in the negative) Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent. ▸ Of the pulse: thready, weak.
- (UK, dialectal, figuratively, informal, qualifier:often in the negative) Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent. ▸ Of weather: wet and dreary.
- (UK, dialectal, figuratively, qualifier:often in the negative) Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent. ▸ Chiefly of sheep: affected by shab or scab (“a skin disease”); scabby.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| shabbier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| shabbiest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
shabbyish · shabbily · shabby chic · shabbify · shabby-genteel · shabbiness · unshabby
Synonyms
beat · moth-eaten · derelict · tacky · timeworn · tatterdemalion · cheeseparing · run-down · seedy · deteriorated · as tight as Dick's hatband · worsened · clapped out · dilapidated · passé · ragged · niggardly · tacky · shabby · beat up · effete · beaten up · weakened · rinky-dink · munted · run-down · miserly · tight as a tick · scrubby · penny-wise · wasted · nipcheese · outworn · crumbling · past it · close as wax · tighter than Dick's hatband · stale · worn-out · bedraggled · scroungy · illiberal · chintzy · mean · tired · tight · close · dilapidated · cheap · ramshackle · parsimonious · mean · damaged · worn · stingy · tumbledown · ravaged · ruinous · faulty · timeworn · broken-down · neglected · raddled · narrow-fisted · miserable · draggled · scrooge-like · still got one's communion money · penurious · shabby · defective · shabby · swear · close-fisted · ungiving · unimproved · ungenerous · wrecked · penny-pinching · decrepit · tight-fisted · tired · past one's prime · wrecksome · rough · ungenerous · peddling
Translations (102)
sh по̀ха̄бан (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ru потрёпанный (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · cs otrhaný (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ja ぼろぼろ (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ro sărăcăcios (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · bg низък (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · cs podlý (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · sh pòhāban (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · es cutre (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fi nuhruinen (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · sh olìnjao (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · it meschino (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · gl esfarrapado (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ro meschin (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · cs omšelý (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · pt esfarrapado (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · pt esbodegado (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · bg подъл (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · it logoro (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fr râpé (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fr usé (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · es andrajoso (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es zarrapastroso (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · pt tosco (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · sh олѝњао (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ro uzat (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ar بَالٍ (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · de schäbig (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · ru запу́щенный (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · lb schappeg (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fr élimé (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · nl haveloos (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ca tronat (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · gl atrouxado (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · cs sprostý (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · sv sjaskig (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · fi nuhjuinen (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es harapiento (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · sh òtr̄cān (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ro ticălos (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · ru потёртый (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es desarrapado (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es desharrapado (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · cs nečestný (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · ru плюга́вый (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · cmn 破爛 /破烂 (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ru убо́гий (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · pt esfarrapado (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · bg износен (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fr minable (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · mi pūtaitai (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · cs ošuntělý (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · bg изтъркан (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · cmn 卑鄙 (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · cs ošuntělý (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es astroso (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · sv sjavig (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · bg захабен (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ro zdrențăros (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fi onneton (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · ota پنتی (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ro josnic (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · sv sjavig (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · cmn 破舊 /破旧 (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ceb nagkagidlay (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · mi taretare (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ru обветша́лый (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · fr miteux (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · de schäbig (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ru ве́тхий (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · nl slonzig (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · mi kanukanu (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · nrf êvâtchi (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ro ponosit (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · cmn 刻薄 (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · ota پنتی (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ru захуда́лый (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · cs zchátralý (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · pt estropiado (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fi surkea (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · ko 누추 (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · sv luggsliten (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · fi nukkavieru (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · sv sliten (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · fi nukkavieru (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ru по́длый (of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean — see also despicable, mean) · sv sjabbig (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · sv maläten (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ceb nagkagidlay (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ru ве́тхий (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ro zdrențuit (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ja ぼろぼろ (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · de schäbig (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es raído (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · bg дрипав (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · es zarrapastroso (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · ru поно́шенный (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · bg опърпан (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · fi nuhruinen (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · fi nuhjuinen (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn) · sh о̀тр̄ца̄н (of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing) · ru жа́лкий (of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect — see also worn)