gruff

Meaning

Adj

1. having a rough, surly, and harsh demeanor and nature.
2. hoarse-voiced.
3. hoarse.

Verb

To speak gruffly.

Noun

Alternative spelling of grough (“gully in a moor”).

Synonyms

rough

harsh

surly

hoarse

unkind

brusque

sullen

sour

crusty

husky

unpleasant

brutal

rude

disagreeable

throaty

abrupt

ill-humored

ill-humoured

tough

curmudgeonly

ungracious

inimical

unfriendly

brusk

discourteous

bristly

bass

dismal

disobliging

distasteful

desolate

brief

deep

curt

boring

baritone

annoyed

horrible

homespun

blunt

guttural

cross

grumpy

gritty

coarse

bluff

bad

👎

grim

inclinable

grating

Translations

nors

onaardig

bars

nurks

honds

rude

zuur

stuurs

brusco

onvriendelijk

bourru

arisco

burbero

brusco

bronco

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɡɹʌf/

Etymology

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: groaf

Cognate with Western Frisian: grof

Cognate with Low German: groff

Cognate with German: grob

Cognate with Swedish: grov

In summary

16th century, from Dutch grof and/or Middle Low German grof (both “rough, coarse, rude”), from Old Dutch *grof or Old Saxon *grof, both from Proto-West Germanic *grob, from Proto-Germanic *grubaz (“coarse, rough”), possibly from an earlier *gahrubaz and then related with *hreubaz (“scabby, rough, scrubby”).
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”).