fusty
UK: ˈfʌsti | US: ˈfʌsti
adj. having a stale, musty, or damp smell
adj. old-fashioned or out-of-date in attitude or style
The word "fusty" traces back to the Old French "fust" (meaning "wine cask" or "wooden barrel"), derived from Latin "fustis" (a stick or club). Over time, "fusty" evolved to describe the stale smell associated with old, damp wood or neglected wine casks. By the 17th century, it gained a figurative sense, referring to ideas or styles perceived as musty or outdated—much like forgotten items in a dusty cellar.
The attic was filled with fusty old books and moth-eaten curtains.
His fusty opinions on technology made him resistant to using smartphones.
A fusty odor lingered in the abandoned cottage.
The professor’s lectures felt fusty, repeating theories from the 1950s.
She wrinkled her nose at the fusty smell of the antique wardrobe.