Dingy
/ˈdɪn.dʒi/noun
Dirty, dull, or faded in appearance.
Did you know?“Dingy” is a relatively late English word, and its exact origin is uncertain, but it likely developed from dialectal forms meaning dull, dark, or sooty rather than from any magical or ritual source.
Etymological Timeline
Late 17th Century
English
dingy
“Dark, dull, or dirty in appearance”
Unknown
English dialect
dingy / dingey
“Sooty, dingy, or discolored”
Unknown
English
ding
“A possible source form, but not securely established”
Modern English
English
dingy
“Dirty, shabby, and lacking brightness”