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brusque

 - 3 dictionary results

brusque

  [bruhsk; especially Brit. broosk]
Use brusque in a Sentence
–adjective
abrupt in manner; blunt; rough: A brusque welcome greeted his unexpected return.
Also, brusk.

Origin:
1595–1605; < MF < It brusco rough, tart, special use of brusco (n.) butcher's broom < LL brūscum, for L rūscus, rūscum, perh. conflated with VL *brūcus heather (see brier 2 )

Related forms:
brusquely, adverb
brusqueness, noun

Synonyms:
unceremonious, short, curt. See blunt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To brusque
brusque also brusk   (brŭsk)   
adj.  Abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt. See Synonyms at gruff.

[French, lively, fierce, from Italian brusco, coarse, rough, from Late Latin brūscum, perhaps blend of Latin rūscus, butcher's broom, and Late Latin brūcus, heather; see briar1.]
brusque'ly adv., brusque'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

brusque 
1651, from Fr. brusque "lively, fierce," from It. adj. brusco "sharp, tart, rough," perhaps from V.L. *bruscum "butcher's broom plant."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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