farouche

[ fa-roosh ]

adjectiveFrench.

fierce.
sullenly unsociable or shy.

Origin of farouche

First recorded in 1760–70; from French, from Old French faro(u)che, forasche; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Late Latin forāsticus “belonging outside or out of doors” (i.e., not fit to be inside), a derivative of the adverb and preposition forās (also forīs ) “(to the) outside, abroad”; see origin at door; see savage for similar semantic development

Words Nearby farouche

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use farouche in a sentence

"Always farouche, dear Miss Warrender, but I apologize," he continued as he gave her his arm.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume III (of 3) | Charles James Wills
She has been very farouche with me for a long time; and is only just beginning to thaw a little from her Zenobia ways.
North and South | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Sa figure est decompose, tous les muscles de son visage sont en contraction, tout son ensemble est farouche et colere.
Travels in France during the years 1814-1815 | Archibald Alison
She did not observe that the farouche officer in the corner of the coach was shaking with suppressed laughter.
The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 3, February, 1851 | Various
I called her "La jeune fille farouche" (looked this up first before doing so), and she was always called this afterwards.
Bullets & Billets | Bruce Bairnsfather

British Dictionary definitions for farouche

farouche

/ French (faruʃ) /

adjective

sullen or shy
socially inept

Origin of farouche

C18: from French, from Old French faroche, from Late Latin forasticus from without, from Latin foras out of doors

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

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