crusty

[kruhs-tee]

adjective

crustier, crustiest 

1. having a crisp or thick crust.

   a loaf of crusty French bread.

2. of the nature of or resembling a crust.

3. harsh; surly; rude.

   a crusty remark.

   Synonyms: brusque, curt, touchy, prickly, testy

crusty

/ ˈkrʌstɪ /

adjective

1. having or characterized by a crust, esp having a thick crust

2. having a rude or harsh character or exterior; surly; curt

   a crusty remark

noun

1. slang,  a dirty type of punk or hippy whose lifestyle involves travelling and squatting

Other Word Forms

• crustily adverb
• crustiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crusty¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; crust, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Well-fired - Refers to rolls baked until brown or black and crusty on top.

From BBC

“A man makes his choices,” Baldwin’s crusty, guilt-ridden drifter says to his grandkid at one point.

From Los Angeles Times

Just add some spicy jam, fresh fruit, and a crusty loaf of Wildgrain sourdough, and you’re ready to build the stoner grazing board of your dreams.

From Salon

The crusty bounty hunter was murdered during an attempted bust, but is resurrected by Satan and given a new assignment: tracking down demons who have escaped from Hell.

From Los Angeles Times

I wanted something to baby, something a little more hands-on — and since nothing goes better with soup than crusty bread, sourdough seemed like the natural next step.

From Salon

Related Words

• brusque 
• cranky 
• gruff 
• irascible 
• prickly 
• sarcastic