brusque

or brusk

[ bruhsk; especially British broosk ]
See synonyms for brusque on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. abrupt in manner; blunt; rough: A brusque welcome greeted his unexpected return.

Origin of brusque

1
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French, from Italian brusco “rough, tart,” special use of brusco (noun) “butcher's broom,” from Late Latin brūscum, for Latin rūscus, rūscum, perhaps conflated with unattested Vulgar Latin brūcus “heather” (see brier2)

synonym study For brusque

See blunt.

Other words for brusque

Other words from brusque

  • brusque·ly, adverb
  • brusque·ness, noun

Words Nearby brusque

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use brusque in a sentence

  • "I thought you wouldn't like the bed," she said, with the brusque familiarity of an old servant and friend.

    A Butterfly on the Wheel | Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
  • She assumed, however, a tone almost brusque, artificially airy and unimportant.

    Mrs. Falchion, Complete | Gilbert Parker
  • The brusque and rather timid young officer is lionized in the drawing-room of Madame Tallien.

    Napoleon's Young Neighbor | Helen Leah Reed
  • He spoke in brusque tones, and he looked at Mina as if he did not know what she might be doing there.

    Tristram of Blent | Anthony Hope
  • In most cases he is deplorably curt of speech and brusque of deportment.

    The Arena | Various

British Dictionary definitions for brusque

brusque

/ (bruːsk, brʊsk) /


adjective
  1. blunt or curt in manner or speech

Origin of brusque

1
C17: from French, from Italian brusco sour, rough, from Medieval Latin bruscus butcher's broom

Derived forms of brusque

  • brusquely, adverb
  • brusqueness or rare brusquerie (ˈbruːskərɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012