musty /ˈmʌsti/adjective 7noun 1verb 1forms 7 adjective7 •Having an odour or taste of mould; also (generally), having a stale or unfresh odour or taste.You had musty vittaile, and he hath holpe to eate it, he is a very valiaunt trencher man, he hath an excellent stomacke. — 1598 •Characteristic of or relating to mould or mouldiness.Not knowing what "swipes" might be, I thought I would run the risk and try it; but it proved a miserable beverage, with a musty, sour flavor, as if it had been a decoction of spoiled pickles. — 1849 •(figurative) Of attitudes, ideas, writing, or other abstract things: no longer fresh or interesting; outdated, stale.An antiquarie is an honest man, for he had rather scrape a piece of copper out of the durt, than a crowne out of Plodion's standish. I know manie wise gentlemen of this mustie vocation, […] — 1592 •(figurative) Of a person: boring and unadventurous; also, old-fashioned, stuck in the past.[T]hey settle upon their ovvn dregs, and grovv muddy and musty vvith long ease, and their prosperity befooleth them to their ovvn destruction. — 1637 •Affected by dampness or mould; damp, mildewed, mouldy.[W]hẽ his wordes be wel sifted, men shall find little fine flowre in thẽ, but all very mustie branne, not worthy so muche as to fede either horse or hogges. — 1532 •(figurative) Bad-tempered, grumpy, irritable.He is monstrous vexed, and musty, at my Chesse-play; […] — 1623 •(rare) Of a male animal such as a camel or an elephant: in musth. noun1 •(no longer used) A type of snuff with a musty flavour. verb1 •(no longer used) To turn musty; to must.Wi[lding]. But harke thee, harke thee VVill, did'st vvinne it? / Ha[zard]. No, but I may loose it ere I goe to bed. / Dost think't shall mustie, vvhat's a hundred pound? — 1633 formsmustied · mustying · musties · more musty · mustier · most musty · mustiest
