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Webster 1913 Edition


Lousy

Lous′y

,
Adj.
1.
Infested with lice.
2.
Mean; contemptible;
as,
lousy
knave
.
[informal]

Webster 1828 Edition


Lousy

LOUS'Y

,
Adj.
s as z. [louse.]
1.
Swarming with lice; infested with lice.
2.
Mean; low; contemptible; as a lousy knave.

Definition 2024


lousy

lousy

English

Adjective

lousy (comparative lousier, superlative lousiest)

  1. Remarkably bad; of poor quality, dirty, or underhanded; mean, contemptible.
    • No offense, but your cooking is lousy.
  2. Infested with lice.
  3. (colloquial, usually with with) Filled or packed (with something, usually bad).
    The place was lousy with students.
    She's lousy with credit cards, goes shopping every day!

Usage notes

Prior to World War II, it was an offensive insult, implying filthiness. Now considered a mild or rather dated term.

Translations

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