dirty English · revision 4585

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=early 15th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈdɜː.ti/, US /ˈdɝː.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[dirt]] and the suffix [[-y]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) a metathesis of Middle English dritty “feculent, muddy” (late 14th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or imparting filth: the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 14th century in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) Soiled with dirt, unclean: the 15th century in the OED,^(OED 1989) late Middle English in SOED.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Characterized by dirt, unclean, is from the 16th century.^(Etymonline) Morally unclean or smutty is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and the verb, to make dirty, from 1591.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) A ''dirty trick'' is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) dull or muddy colours from the 1690s,^(Etymonline) and ''dirty work'' in the figurative sense from 1764.^(Etymonline) ''Dirty joke'' is by 1856,^(Etymonline) ''dirty linen'', private secrets, from the 1860s,^(Etymonline) and ''dirty look'' by 1923.^(Etymonline) ''The dirty end of the stick'' is from 1924.^(OED 1989) Not streamlined, of an aircraft, is by 1925,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''dirty old man'' from 1932,^(Etymonline) and of a nuclear weapon with much radioactive fallout by 1956.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – filthy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – smutty.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1591 – verb.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1670s – ''dirty trick''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1764 – ''dirty work''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – ''dirty joke''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1923 – ''dirty look''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1956 – of a nuclear weapon.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Soiled with dirt; unclean.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Causing dirt or pollution: ''a dirty job''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Obscene or indecent: ''a dirty joke''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Unfair, dishonest or corrupt: ''dirty tricks''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Unpleasant or hostile: ''a dirty look''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a colour, dull or muddy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a nuclear weapon, producing much radioactive [[fallout]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become dirty; to [[soil]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To stain or tarnish with dishonour.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dirtily]]

+ * [[dirtiness]]

+ * [[quick-and-dirty]]

+ * [[dirty war]]

+ * [[dirty bomb]]

+ * [[dirty laundry]]

+ * [[dirty linen]]

+ * [[dirty old man]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dirt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}