adj. 1 having a rough surface; bearing short stiff hairs, scales, etc.; scurfy. 2 (of a subject, situation, etc.) requiring tactful treatment; hard to handle with decency. 3 a indecent, salacious. b behaving licentiously. scabrously adv. scabrousness n.
[ F scabreux or LL scabrosus f. L scaber rough ]