musty1

[muhs-tee] /ˈmʌs ti/
adjective, mustier, mustiest.
1.
having an odor or flavor suggestive of mold, as old buildings, long-closed rooms, or stale food.
2.
obsolete; outdated; antiquated:
musty laws.
3.
dull; apathetic.
Origin
1520-30; perhaps variant of moisty (Middle English; see moist, -y1) with loss of i before s as in master
Related forms
mustily, adverb
mustiness, noun
Synonyms
1. dank, moldy, stale.

musty2

[muhs-tee] /ˈmʌs ti/
noun, plural musties.
1.
(formerly) a kind of snuff having a musty flavor.
Origin
1700-10; noun use of musty1
Examples from the web for musty
  • The formerly dark, musty building became light-filled and bright.
  • The birds were all around us-large and small, light and dark, squawking and screeching-and the air reeked of musty guano.
  • Instead of the musty smell of book-filled stacks, the first thing that strikes you is the cold.
  • Above all there is the musty odor of decaying paper.
  • Four poles were lodged at the four corners, and a musty, threadbare cloth was mounted as a cover.
  • Inside, the air was dark and musty, with a few cracks of light pouring in from the open gaps between logs.
  • Swamp coolers got their name because they add humidity and, if not properly maintained, a musty smell to the air.
  • The air in that grotto, dank and musty, has the smell of history.
  • Dehumidifiers make living comfy by removing moisture through the air and obtaining rid of mold, mildew and musty smells.
  • Hay insulation could also become musty, which would impart a stale flavor to the food.
British Dictionary definitions for musty

musty

/ˈmʌstɪ/
adjective -tier, -tiest
1.
smelling or tasting old, stale, or mouldy
2.
old-fashioned, dull, or hackneyed: musty ideas
Derived Forms
mustily, adverb
mustiness, noun
Word Origin
C16: perhaps a variant of obsolete moisty, influenced by must³
Word Origin and History for musty
adj.

1520s, perhaps a variant of moisty "moist, damp" (see moist). Related: Mustiness.