Tattiest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The most worn or shabby in appearance, often due to prolonged use
2. describing something that has fallen into a dilapidated state, showing signs of neglect or excessive wear
3. characterized by an unkempt or ragged look, lacking freshness or care in its maintenance

Etymology: "Tattiest" is the superlative of "tatty", so the story belongs to the adjective's base. The sense of "shabby" most likely grows out of "tatter", a word for a torn rag or a frayed scrap of cloth, with the suffix "-y" added to describe something covered in such rags. A parallel path runs through "tat", a term for cheap or worn-out goods, which also takes the same "-y" ending. The tangle of suggested origins shows how uncertain the exact route is. Another proposal links "tatty" to "potato", through the clipped form "tater" and the same suffix, though a potato is an unlikely source for a word about shabby cloth. Yet another idea points to Hindi, which the evidence leaves unresolved. Where the true path lies is unclear, so the safest account is the cloth-rag family of words, with "-y" giving the sense of having the quality of a rag.

Synonyms: shabbiest, tattered, worn

Antonyms: neatest, smartest, best-dressed