I. ˈgrəf adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: from earlier grof, groiff, from Dutch grof, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German grob, gerob thick, coarse, hruf pock, scurf — more at dandruff
1. now chiefly Scotland : having a coarse texture : coarse-grained
2. : rough or stern in manner, speech, or aspect : severe , harsh , ungracious
a gruff burly man
gruff of manner and slow of speech — Ross Annett
gave a gruff , uneasy laugh — W.H.Wright
covered his … friendly nature with a gruff exterior — Bruce Bliven b. 1889
3. : deep and harsh : low-pitched and rough or hoarse
spoke in a series of gruff barks — Dorothy Sayers
heard the gruff voice of her father raised in anger — Christopher Bloom
Synonyms: see bluff
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to utter in a gruff voice or manner
“hurry it up,” he gruffed at the hose tender — Wirt Williams
gruffed: “This is the first time I've ever been called a handmaiden” — Time