brusque

or brusk

[ bruhsk; especially British broosk ]
See synonyms for: brusquebrusquelybrusqueness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. abrupt in manner; blunt; rough: A brusque welcome greeted his unexpected return.

Origin of brusque

1
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French, from Italian brusco “rough, tart,” special use of brusco (noun) “butcher's broom,” from Late Latin brūscum, for Latin rūscus, rūscum, perhaps conflated with unattested Vulgar Latin brūcus “heather” (see brier2)

synonym study For brusque

See blunt.

Other words for brusque

Other words from brusque

  • brusque·ly, adverb
  • brusque·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use brusque in a sentence

  • His somewhat brusk manner melts into kind amiability when discussing the topics in which he is vitally interested.

    Piano Mastery | Harriette Brower
  • "That is very sudden," said Gonzalo, smiling to conceal his vexation at her brusk refusal.

    The Fourth Estate, vol. 2 | Armando Palacio Valds
  • With this brusk and emphatic reply he left the ravine, followed by Oza.

    A Prince of Anahuac | James A. Porter
  • An ashen shade came over his face, but it passed quickly; his voice sounded brusk.

    Half A Chance | Frederic S. Isham
  • The latter, in spite of brusk manners, which he had acquired in the field, was a highly respectable gentleman.

    The Conspirators | Alexandre Dumas (Pere)

British Dictionary definitions for brusque

brusque

/ (bruːsk, brʊsk) /


adjective
  1. blunt or curt in manner or speech

Origin of brusque

1
C17: from French, from Italian brusco sour, rough, from Medieval Latin bruscus butcher's broom

Derived forms of brusque

  • brusquely, adverb
  • brusqueness or rare brusquerie (ˈbruːskərɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012