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adjective, -er, -est.
1.
low and harsh; hoarse: a gruff voice.
2.
rough, brusque, or surly: a gruff manner.
Origin:
1525–35; < Middle Dutch grof coarse; cognate with German grob
1525–35; < Middle Dutch grof coarse; cognate with German grob
Related forms
gruff·ish, adjective
gruff·ly, adverb
gruff·ness, noun
un·gruff, adjective
Synonyms
2. curt.
2. curt.
Antonyms
2. courteous.
2. courteous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Gruff
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Example Sentences
- His voice, gruff and glib at once, has been familiar now for decades.
- It is remarkable how far a little respect will go, even with relatively gruff people.
- Robbins excels as the gruff family man but that's to be expected from the veteran character actor.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
gruff
1533, from M.Du. or M.L.G. grof "coarse (in quality), thick, large" (cognate with O.E. hreof, O.N. hrjufr "rough, scabby"). Sense of "rough, surly" first recorded c.1690.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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