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Downy vs Dowdy - What's the difference?

downy | dowdy |

As adjectives the difference between downy and dowdy

is that downy is having down, covered with a soft fuzzy coating as of small feathers while dowdy is plain and unfashionable in style or dress.

downy

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Having down, covered with a soft fuzzy coating as of small feathers.
    • The chick's downy coat of feathers formed almost immediately to keep it warm.

    dowdy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Plain and unfashionable in style or dress.
  • Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby.
  • * 1891,
    • [...she was] a perfect saint amongst women, but so dreadfully dowdy that she reminded one of a badly bound hymn-book.

    Derived terms

    * dowd * dowdify * dowdily * dowdiness