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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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Link To gruffness
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Gruffness
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
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
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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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