scabrous

[ skab-ruhs ]

adjective

1. having a rough surface because of minute points or projections.
2. indecent or scandalous; risqué; obscene:

   scabrous books.

   Synonyms: improper, wanton, lewd

3. full of difficulties.

scabrous

/ ˈskeɪbrəs /

adjective

1. roughened because of small projections; scaly
2. indelicate, indecent, or salacious

   scabrous humour

3. difficult to deal with; knotty

Derived Forms

• ˈscabrously, adverb
• ˈscabrousness, noun

Other Words From

• scabrous·ly adverb
• scabrous·ness noun
• un·scabrous adjective
• un·scabrous·ly adverb
• un·scabrous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scabrous¹

1575–85; < Latin scab ( e ) r rough + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of scabrous¹

C17: from Latin scaber rough; related to scabies

Example Sentences

From Romantic squish to scabrous satirist to rebel wrangler to, finally, Ambassador of Goodwill.

From The Daily Beast

Lucretius is scabrous and rough in these; he seeks them: as some do Chaucerisms with us, which were better expunged and banished.

From Project Gutenberg

The spores are rounded, and rough (scabrous) on the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

Whereupon Khalid, who was then in the first of his teens, takes a big scabrous rock and sends it flying against that door.

From Project Gutenberg

Then we incontinently proceed to stone him to death with scabrous adjectives!

From Project Gutenberg

Blades long, dark green, succulent and scabrous: ridges numerous and flat above, but distinct (Fig. 9).

From Project Gutenberg