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Definition of Gruff
1. Adjective. Brusque and surly and forbidding. "A gruff reply"
Similar to: Ill-natured
Derivative terms: Crust, Curmudgeon, Gruffness
2. Adjective. Deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion. "Makes all the instruments sound powerful but husky"
Similar to: Cacophonic, Cacophonous
Derivative terms: Gruffness, Hoarseness, Huskiness
Definition of Gruff
1. a. Of a rough or stern manner, voice, or countenance; sour; surly; severe; harsh.
Definition of Gruff
1. Adjective. To have a rough, surly, or harsh nature. ¹
2. Adjective. Hoarse voiced. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Gruff
1. low and harsh in speech [adj GRUFFER, GRUFFEST] / to utter in a gruff voice [v -ED, -ING, -S]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Gruff
Literary usage of Gruff
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Children's Literature: A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher by Charles Madison Curry (1921)
"THE THREE BILLY-GOATS gruff Once on a time there were three Billy- goats who were
to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all the ..."
2. Public School Methods (1921)
"THE THREE BILLY GOATS gruff Once upon a time there were three Billy Goats, and
one was a very large Goat, and one was a middle-sized Goat, ..."
3. Graded Literature Readers by Harry Pratt Judson, Ida C. Bender (1899)
"Once upon a time there were three billy goats. Their name was gruff. There was
Little gruff and Big gruff and Biggest gruff. ..."
4. Popular Tales from the Norse by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Jørgen Engebretsen Moe (1912)
"So first of all came the youngest billy-goat gruff to cross the bridge. ...
Oh, it is only I, the tiniest billy-goat gruff; and I'm going up to the ..."
5. The Crafts Family: A Genealogical and Biographical History of the by James Monroe Crafts, William Francis Crafts (1893)
"Mary gruff and William Sweetland. 7 Feb., 1711. Miriam Graffe and Thomas ...
William gruff Jr. and Mary Bray. 1 Jan., 1739. John gruff and Anne Green. ..."
6. Sporting Magazine edited by [Anonymus AC02751662] (1823)
"Lord, Mister gruff ! observe your much force: From Hang me! Hang me i gruff vulgar
way— 'Tie Hang me, hang me, every word you say! ..."
7. Read and Understand Stories and Activities by Jo Ellen Moore (1997)
""That grass looks so tasty," said the littlest Billy Goat gruff. "It must taste
better than our grass" said the second Billy Goat gruff. ..."
8. Children's Literature: A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher by Charles Madison Curry (1921)
"THE THREE BILLY-GOATS gruff Once on a time there were three Billy- goats who were
to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all the ..."
9. Public School Methods (1921)
"THE THREE BILLY GOATS gruff Once upon a time there were three Billy Goats, and
one was a very large Goat, and one was a middle-sized Goat, ..."
10. Graded Literature Readers by Harry Pratt Judson, Ida C. Bender (1899)
"Once upon a time there were three billy goats. Their name was gruff. There was
Little gruff and Big gruff and Biggest gruff. ..."
11. Popular Tales from the Norse by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Jørgen Engebretsen Moe (1912)
"So first of all came the youngest billy-goat gruff to cross the bridge. ...
Oh, it is only I, the tiniest billy-goat gruff; and I'm going up to the ..."
12. The Crafts Family: A Genealogical and Biographical History of the by James Monroe Crafts, William Francis Crafts (1893)
"Mary gruff and William Sweetland. 7 Feb., 1711. Miriam Graffe and Thomas ...
William gruff Jr. and Mary Bray. 1 Jan., 1739. John gruff and Anne Green. ..."
13. Sporting Magazine edited by [Anonymus AC02751662] (1823)
"Lord, Mister gruff ! observe your much force: From Hang me! Hang me i gruff vulgar
way— 'Tie Hang me, hang me, every word you say! ..."
14. Read and Understand Stories and Activities by Jo Ellen Moore (1997)
""That grass looks so tasty," said the littlest Billy Goat gruff. "It must taste
better than our grass" said the second Billy Goat gruff. ..."
Other Resources:
