mouldy
UK: ˈməʊldi | US: ˈmoʊldi
adj. covered with or smelling of mould (fungus)
adj. stale or outdated in a negative sense
The word "mouldy" combines "mould," derived from Old English molde (meaning "loose earth" or "decaying matter"), with the suffix "-y," which turns nouns into adjectives. Over time, "mould" specifically came to refer to fungal growth, and "-y" added the descriptive quality (e.g., "covered in mould"). The figurative sense ("outdated") emerged later, likening something stale to physical decay.
The bread turned mouldy after being left in the damp cupboard.
The basement had a damp, mouldy smell.
His ideas were dismissed as mouldy and irrelevant.
She found a mouldy cheese at the back of the fridge.
The old books were ruined by mouldy pages.