seamy

adjective, seam·i·er, seam·i·est.

1. unpleasant or sordid; low; disagreeable: the seamy side of life.
2. having, showing, or of the nature of a seam.

adjective seamier or seamiest

1. showing the least pleasant aspect; sordid
2. (esp of the inner side of a garment) showing many seams

adj.c.1600, “least pleasant, worst,” in figurative phrase seamy side, from seam + -y (2); the seamy side of a sewn garment being the less attractive, and thus typically turned in. The popularity of the figurative sense likely is due to its use by Shakespeare in “Othello” IV.ii.146: “Some such Squire he was That turn’d your wits the seamy-side without, And made you to suspect me with the Moore.”