blowsy

Dec. 19th, 2012 07:14 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (words are sexy)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
blowsy or blowzy or blousy (BLAU-zee) - adj., having a plump, ruddy complexion; (esp. of women) disheveled, unkempt; (of women) slovenly, sluttish; countrified.


The slattern sense is, interestingly, the root: this is 18th century slang derived from obsolete blowze, wench, beggar-woman. The disheveled sense shows up in Austen, btw (P&P ch 8).

---L.

Date: 2012-12-19 08:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thistleingrey.livejournal.com
Comforting, somehow, that "blowze" itself has no known etymology.

Date: 2012-12-20 12:15 am (UTC)

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