Musty and stuffy; also, slovenly, unkempt, or disreputable in appearance or condition.
Likely from Old Norse or Middle English dialectal roots, possibly related to words meaning stagnant or foul-smelling; may be connected to 'frowst' or may be independent, with various spellings (frowsy, frowzy, frowse).
The word 'frowsy' can mean either a stuffy atmosphere OR an unkempt person—this double meaning shows how English connects smell, disorder, and dishevelment in our perception, linking sensory and moral judgments.
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