gruff /ɡrʌf/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Dutch ; Origin: grof ]
speaking in a rough unfriendly voice:
His manner can be rather gruff.
a gruff reply
His voice became gruff.
—gruffly adverb
—gruffness noun [uncountable]
gruff /ɡrʌf/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Dutch ; Origin: grof ]
speaking in a rough unfriendly voice:
His manner can be rather gruff.
a gruff reply
His voice became gruff.
—gruffly adverb
—gruffness noun [uncountable]
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Longman - Словарь современного английского языка. 2012