Unkempt, slovenly, or having a stuffy, musty smell; also can mean drab or dingy in appearance.
Origin uncertain, possibly from Low German or Scandinavian roots. First documented in English in the 16th century, with the meaning shifting between 'unkempt' and 'musty' depending on context and region, reflecting the connected ideas of neglect and poor ventilation.
Frowzy is the perfect descriptor for those old attics and antique shops that smell like they've been closed up for fifty years—the word itself almost feels like you're wrinkling your nose as you say it.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.