Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHAB'BY, a. [D. schabbig; G. schäbig, from schaben, to rub, to shave, to scratch; schabe, a moth, a shaving tool, a scab. This is a different orthography of Scabby.]

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. – Clarendon. [For the idea expressed by shabby, there is not a better word in the language.]