gruff

From West Flemish and Dutch grof (“rude, coarse, rough”), from Middle Dutch grof (“coarse”), from Old Dutch *grof, of uncertain formation and relation, yet undoubtedly cognate with Saterland Frisian groaf (“rough, coarse, crude”), West Frisian grof (“rough, coarse, crude”), Low German groff (“rough, coarse, crude”), German grob (“rough, coarse, crude”), Swedish grov (“rough, coarse, crude”). Perhaps originating from Proto-West Germanic *gahrob, from Proto-Germanic *gahrubaz, *hrubaz, related to Proto-Germanic *hreubaz (“scabby, rough, scrubby”) or alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *grob, from Proto-Germanic *grubaz (“coarse, rough”).