grotty

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɒti

Etymology 1

Clipping of grotesque +‎ -y. Piecewise doublet of grody, the American equivalent. Compare Middle English groti, grooti (“slimy, muddy”), from Old English grotiġ (“earthy, dirty”) (modern dialectal English groaty, Scots grotty), which is equivalent to groat +‎ -y. Compare also Scottish Gaelic grod (“rotten, lousy, terrible”), Middle Irish grot (“bitter, sour”).

Originated or popularised by the 1964 film A Hard Day's Night, starring the Beatles and written by Alun Owen.

Adjective

grotty (comparative grottier, superlative grottiest)

1. (slang, UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) Unpleasant, dirty, slovenly or offensive.
   • 1964, Alun Owen, A Hard Day's Night:

     George: I wouldn't be seen dead in them. They're dead grotty.
     
     Simon: Grotty?
     
     George: Yeah, grotesque.

Synonyms

• grody
• gross
• gro

Derived terms

• grottily
• grottiness

Related terms

• grody

Etymology 2

See groaty.

Adjective

grotty (comparative grottier or more grotty, superlative grottiest or most grotty)

1. Alternative form of groaty.