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gruff - 4 dictionary results
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gruff

  [gruhf]
Use gruff in a Sentence
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. low and harsh; hoarse: a gruff voice.
2. rough, brusque, or surly: a gruff manner.
Origin:
1525–35; < MD grof coarse; c. G grob

Related forms:
gruffish, adjective
gruffly, adverb
gruffness, noun

Synonyms:
2. curt.

Antonyms:
2. courteous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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gruff   (grŭf)   
adj.   gruff·er, gruff·est
  1. Brusque or stern in manner or appearance: a gruff reply.
  2. Hoarse; harsh: a gruff voice.

[Dutch grof, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German.]
gruff'ly adv., gruff'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean abrupt and sometimes discourteous in manner or speech. Gruff implies roughness or surliness but does not necessarily suggest rudeness: a gruff reply.
Brusque emphasizes rude abruptness: a brusque manner.
Blunt stresses utter frankness and usually a disconcerting directness: a blunt refusal.
Bluff refers to unpolished, unceremonious manner but usually implies hearty good nature: a bluff and courageous sailor.
Curt denotes usually rude briefness and abruptness of speech: a curt letter of rejection.
Crusty suggests a rough and forbidding manner that sometimes conceals benevolence of spirit: a crusty old gentlemen who feeds stray cats.
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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Gruff

Gruff\, a. [Compar. Gruffer; superl. Gruffest.] [D. grof; akin to G. grob, OHG. gerob, grob, Dan. grov, Sw. grof, perh. akin to AS. rc['o]fan to break, Z. reavc, rupture, g- standing for the AS. prefix ge-, Goth. ga-.] Of a rough or stern manner, voice, or countenance; sour; surly; severe; harsh. --Addison.

Gruff, disagreeable, sarcastic remarks. --Thackeray. -- Gruff"ly, adv. -- Gruff"ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : gruff
Spanish: ronco,
German: schroff,
Japanese: どら声の
More Translations »

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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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