Etymology From Middle English sooty, soty, equivalent to soot + -y. Probably influenced by similar Middle English suti (“dirty, filthy”), derived from the same root as Old English besūtian (“to befoul”).
1
Of, relating to, or producing soot.
Fire of sooty coal.1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
The white faience façade, the glazed Doultonware Carrera marble, was made locally. And being glazed, it was impervious to London's sooty atmosphere, enabling easier cleaning.2023 December 13, Robin Leleux, “Restored... and a richly deserved award: Findlater's Corner”, in RAIL, number 998, page 43:
2
Soiled with soot
3
Of the color of soot.
The grisly legions that troop under the sooty flag of Acheron.1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC:
While thus reduced, his few surviving senses were at once called into acute activity by the appearance of a sooty little negro, who placed within his grasp a misshapen fold of dirty paper, […]1834, William Gilmore Simms, Guy Rivers: A tale of Georgia:
Cæsar Pinkerton is a very respectable “gemman of colour;” […] [H]e aspired to have a wife. […] [H]e therefore paid a series of delicate attentions to Miss Feliciana Dusenberry, a sooty specimen of the fair sex.1835 April 14, “Police Scenes”, in York Gazette, volume XV, number 47, York, Pa.: [Adam] King & [Adam John] Glossbrenner, →OCLC, page [2], column 2:
1 more example
And, though I've laughed at your expense, / O sister of the sooty hue, / No man who has a heart and sense / Would do one deed to injure you.1877, Henry Kendall, “Ode to a Black Gin”, in The Australian Town and Country Journal, page 24:
Etymology From Middle English sooty, soty, equivalent to soot + -y. Probably influenced by similar Middle English suti (“dirty, filthy”), derived from the same root as Old English besūtian (“to befoul”).
1
To blacken or make dirty with soot.
Sootied with noisome smoke.1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC: