Gruffness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Gruff \Gruff\ (gr[u^]f), a. [Compar. {Gruffer} (gr[u^]f"[~e]r);
     superl. {Gruffest}.] [D. grof; akin to G. grob, OHG. gerob,
     grob, Dan. grov, Sw. grof, perh. akin to AS. rc['o]fan to
     break, Z. reavc, rupture, g- standing for the AS. prefix ge-,
     Goth. ga-.]
     Of a rough or stern manner, voice, or countenance; sour;


     surly; severe; harsh. --Addison.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Gruff, disagreeable, sarcastic remarks.  --Thackeray.
     -- {Gruff"ly}, adv. -- {Gruff"ness}, n.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  gruffness
       n 1: a throaty harshness [syn: {hoarseness}, {huskiness}]
       2: an abrupt discourteous manner [syn: {abruptness}, {brusqueness},
           {curtness}, {shortness}]