Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Brusque or stern in manner or appearance.
- adjective Hoarse; harsh.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Rough or stern in manner, voice, or countenance; surly; severe; harsh.
- noun In pharmacy, the coarse residue which will not pass through the sieve in pulverization.
- noun Crude or impure saltpeter, as imported from India.
- noun In mining, a pit or shaft.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Of a rough or stern manner, voice, or countenance; sour; surly; severe; harsh.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective having a
rough ,surly , or harsh nature. - adjective
hoarse voiced.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective brusque and surly and forbidding
- adjective deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word gruff.
Examples
-
First Impression: Harley is described as a gruff, nasty, and rebellious biker.
5-Star Baby Name Advisor Bruce Lansky 2008
-
First Impression: Harley is described as a gruff, nasty, and rebellious biker.
5-Star Baby Name Advisor Bruce Lansky 2008
-
At first Robber Mother answered in short, gruff sentences, but by degrees she became more subdued and listened more intently.
Christmas in Legend and Story A Book for Boys and Girls Elva S. Smith
-
Mr. Richard seemed to be denying or refusing something in short gruff gasps of breath.
-
"Make room there," called a gruff voice, not far distant.
With Those Who Wait Frances Wilson Huard
-
He stumbled over a box that he had missed before, swore, and called a gruff hello.
Skyrider B. M. Bower 1905
-
I re-called the gruff warning Bezers -- even Bezers, and there was something very odd in Bezers giving a warning!
The House of the Wolf; a romance Stanley John Weyman 1891
-
"Halloo, who's that?" called a gruff voice from the darkness, the hail proving more startling than the first surprise.
Cowmen and Rustlers A Story of the Wyoming Cattle Ranges Edward Sylvester Ellis 1878
-
"Come in!" called a gruff voice, and feeling very much as if he were going to have a tooth out, Ben meekly followed the good woman, who put on her pleasantest smile, anxious to make the best possible impression.
St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, January 1878, No. 3 Various 1868
-
She was plain-featured, and had rather a severe expression on her face; her dress was as rich as any morning dress could be; her voice deep and unmodulated, -- what in a lower rank of life would have been called gruff; but that was not a word to apply to Lady Cuxhaven, the eldest daughter of the earl and countess.
Wives and Daughters Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell 1837
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.