Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Musty"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Musty \Mus"ty\, a. [Compar. {Mustier}; superl. {Mustiest}.]
[From L. mustum must; or perh. fr. E. moist. Cf. {Must}, n.,
{Moist}.]
1. Having the rank, pungent, offencive odor and taste which
substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist
weather; foul or sour and fetid; moldy; as, musty corn;
musty books. --Harvey.
2. Spoiled by age; rank; stale.
The proverb is somewhat musty. --Shak.
3. Dull; heavy; spiritless. ``That he may not grow musty and
unfit for conversation.'' --Addison.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
musty
adj 1: covered with or smelling of mold; "moldy bread"; "a moldy
(or musty) odor" [syn: {moldy}, {mouldy}]
2: stale and unclean smelling [syn: {fusty}, {frowsty}]
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