i Register
In some senses, musty is marked as figuratively, obsolete, rare. Watch for register when choosing this word.
adj
Affected by dampness or mould; damp, mildewed, mouldy.
[W]hẽ his wordes be wel ſifted, men ſhall find little fine flowre in thẽ, but all very muſtie branne, not worthy ſo muche as to fede either horſe or hogges.
O vve muſt not regard vvhat he ſaies man, a Trout, a ſhallovv foole, he ha's no more braine than a Butterflie, a meer ſtuft ſuit, he looks like a muſtie Bottle, nevv vvickerd, his head's the Corke, light, light.
Having an odour or taste of mould; also (generally), having a stale or unfresh odour or taste.
musty food musty furniture a musty odour
You had muſty vittaile, and he hath holpe to eate it, he is a very valiaunt trencher man, he hath an excellent ſtomacke.
Characteristic of or relating to mould or mouldiness.
Not knowing what "swipes" might be, I thought I would run the risk and try it; but it proved a miserable beverage, with a musty, sour flavor, as if it had been a decoction of spoiled pickles.
Of attitudes, ideas, writing, or other abstract things: no longer fresh or interesting; outdated, stale.
An antiquarie is an honest man, for he had rather scrape a piece of copper out of the durt, than a crowne out of Plodion's standish. I know manie wise gentlemen of this mustie vocation, […]
[W]hile the graſſe grovves, the Prouerbe is ſomething muſty.
Of a person: boring and unadventurous; also, old-fashioned, stuck in the past.
[T]hey ſettle upon their ovvn dregs, and grovv muddy and muſty vvith long eaſe, and their proſperity befooleth them to their ovvn deſtruction.
[B]eing married to a bookish man, who has no knowledge of the world, she is forced to take their affairs into her own hands, and to spirit him up now and then, that he may not grow musty, and unfit for conversation.
noun
A type of snuff with a musty flavour (adjective sense 2).
verb
To turn musty (adjective sense 1 or 2); to must.
Wi[lding]. But harke thee, harke thee VVill, did'ſt vvinne it? / Ha[zard]. No, but I may looſe it ere I goe to bed. / Doſt think't ſhall muſtie, vvhat's a hundred pound?