From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrattyrat‧ty /ˈræti/ adjective 1 British English informalBAD-TEMPERED becoming annoyed quickly or easily SYN irritable I feel guilty about getting ratty with the children.2 American English informalCONDITION/STATE OF something dirty and in bad condition → shabby a ratty old sofa ratty hair
Examples from the Corpus
ratty• No joke, he said, upset neighbours could get very ratty.• a ratty bathrobe• Philip, alone on his blanket, a ratty beach blanket of gray flannel, stood up and waved me over.• Patsy was getting ratty, Betsy was getting distressed, and Jimmy was losing all respect for his mum.• A red-eyed junkie in a ratty brown coat played doorman, standing outside like a homeless guy.• He had a bald spot, under a straggle of brown hair, and a ratty Fu Manchu moustache.• Mrs Kulass put on a ratty fur coat, a shabby felt hat, and put her hands inside an old muff.• Hitchcock gets a ratty letter for messing up his contribution to the script of Strangers On A Train.getting ratty• Patsy was getting ratty, Betsy was getting distressed, and Jimmy was losing all respect for his mum. 