SHAB'BY, adjective 1. Ragged; torn or worn to rags; as a shabby coat; shabby clothes. 2. Clothed with ragged garments. The dean was so shabby- Swift. 3. Mean; paltry; despicable; as a shabby fellow; shabby treatment. [For the idea expressed by shabby, there is not a better word in the language.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI