Shoddy

Before this word acquired its meaning of sub-standard or inferior quality, it was the proper name of a cheap, recycled, fabric manufactured in the early 19th century called shoddy cloth. Like many proper nouns, no one knows why or how the fabric was called shoddy but it was made from the scraps and rags of other fabrics, chiefly wool. It was not good quality fabric and therefore from around the mid-19th century, anything that was sub-standard or of inferior quality was called shoddy and by the early 20th century, the meaning was extended to shoddy behaviour. Although similar in meaning, there is no etymological between shoddy and slipshod. See also Rag and bone.