farouche

American  

[fa-roosh] / faˈruʃ /

adjective

French.

1. fierce.

2. sullenly unsociable or shy.

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farouche British  

/ faruʃ /

adjective

1. sullen or shy

2. socially inept

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Etymology

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 ( def. ); see savage ( def. ) for similar semantic development

Explanation

If someone describes you as farouche, they either mean you're wild and disorderly, or that you're awkward and shy. Either way, it's not a compliment! Farouche is from the Late Latin forasticus, "living outside," and its root, foras, "outdoors." Originally, it described anyone so uncomfortable socializing with other people that they didn't seem to be used to civilized human company. In this way, a farouche person was both "wild" and "shy." In fact, you can describe both the kid running wildly through a party knocking things over and her sister, sitting sullenly in the corner refusing to talk, as farouche.

Example Sentences

Clinch’s Marley is one of the great farouche characters, at once frightening and dangerously attractive.

From New York Times • Oct. 8, 2019

Today Mr. Jacobson lives in a Ray Kappe-designed home in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with his wife, Kristopher Dukes, who is an interior designer, and their farouche leather-clad pit bull, Luscious.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2015

I love the way we’re left to imagine the silliness of the hat, and as a writer I couldn’t wait to use the word farouche.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2014

Guileless, farouche, wholly uninhibited in her reading of Marston's choreography, she projects a reach-out-and-touch-me naturalness that compels both pity and wonder.

From The Guardian • May 25, 2013

Disordered, farouche as is his style its spiritual note enchains me.

From Melomaniacs by Huneker, James