Defining Things

A thing can be defined as shabby when it appears worn out, moth-eaten or threadbare, such as an old chair or tattered slacks. Shabby is also defined as mediocre or of low quality, such as when describing a performance.

Defining Places

A place can be defined as shabby when it is dirty or worn down. A seedy motel, a dilapidated old house or a neglected, overgrown park could all be called shabby.

Defining People

A person can be defined as shabby when she or he appears unkempt or slovenly. Someone who treats others in a mean or an unjust manner is said to behave shabbily.

History

Shabby comes from the Old English "sceabb," which evolved around 1669 to "shab," a word referring to a sheep disease. By 1754, the phrase "shabby-genteel" was in popular use to describe someone or something worn down but attempting to "keep up appearances."

Famous Ties

Albert Einstein famously used shabby in this quote: "If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies. . . . It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it."

Source:

Online Etymology Dictionary

Quotes Daddy