Main Entry:

squal·id

Pronunciation:

\ˈskwä-ləd\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin squalidus rough, dirty, from squalēre to be covered with scales or dirt, from squalus dirty; perhaps akin to Latin squama scale

Date:

1596

1 : marked by filthiness and degradation from neglect or poverty 2 : sordid

synonyms see dirty

— squal·id·ly adverb

— squal·id·ness noun