Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Origin: scruff 'messy person' (19-21 centuries), from scurf; SCURVY

scruffy

 adjective
     
scruf‧fy
dirty and untidy:
a scruffy old pair of jeans
scruffy shops
—scruffily adverb:
a scruffily dressed man
—scruffiness noun [uncountable]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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