| 释义 |
▪ I. dowdy, n.1 and a.|ˈdaʊdɪ|
Also 6 doudie, 7 dowdie, 7–9 doudy.
[A deriv. of dowd.
(It would be natural to regard the adj. as the primary form, from dowd n. with suffix -y as in need-y, etc.; but the n., being known earlier, may be a diminutive formation, as in daddy, and the adj. an attributive use.)]
A. n. A woman or girl shabbily or unattractively dressed, without smartness or brightness.
1581Rich Farew. Milit. Prof., If plaine or homely, wee saie she is a doudie or a slut. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iv. 42 Dido, a dowdie: Cleopatra, a Gipsie. 1660–1Pepys Diary 8 Mar., Among others the Duchesse of Albemarle, who is ever a plain homely dowdy. a1700B.E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Doudy, An ugly coarse hard favored Woman. 1774Anne Granville in Mrs. Delany's Corr. Ser. ii. II. 49 Her hair not..suffered to grow too low on her forehead..it makes all the children look like dowdys. 1883Besant All in Garden Fair i. ii, To be gracious and sympathetic..you must be nicely dressed; a dowdy cannot be gracious.
B. adj. (Almost always of a woman or her dress.) Shabbily dull in colour or appearance; without brightness, smartness, or freshness.
1676Shadwell Virtuoso iii, Little dowdy strumpets. 1684T. Burnet Th. Earth ii. 221 Female angels..of a far more charming beauty than the dowdy daughters of men. 1774Anne Granville in Mrs. Delany's Corr. Ser. ii. II. 48 A very dowdy fashion. 1865Trollope Belton Est. i. A thick black silk dress..not rusty or dowdy with age. 1869― He knew xcvii, A plain, silent, shy, dowdy young woman. 1887R. N. Carey Uncle Max xxx. 238 In your nurse's livery..black serge, and a horrid dowdy bonnet.
▪ II. dowdy, n.2 Obs. or dial.
= dowd n.2 (see quots.).
1778F. Burney Evelina II. ii. 35 ‘Perhaps Lady Howard may be able to lend you a cap...’ ‘Do you think I'd wear one of her dowdies?’ 1880W. H. Patterson Gloss. Antrim & Down 32 Dowdy cap, same as dowd. 1905Wright Eng. Dial. Dict. Suppl. 91/1 Dowdy. Hmp. The linen bonnet worn by women when working in the field. |