gruff

Meaning

Synonyms

Translations

Notes

Extra tools

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɡɹʌf/

Cognate with Saterland Frisian

Cognate with Western Frisian

Cognate with Low German

Cognate with German

Cognate with Swedish

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”).