GRUFF

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does gruff mean? 

• GRUFF (adjective)
  The adjective GRUFF has 2 senses:

1. brusque and surly and forbidding

2. deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion

  Familiarity information: GRUFF used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRUFF (adjective)

Comparative: gruffer   
Superlative: gruffest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Brusque and surly and forbidding

Synonyms:

crusty; curmudgeonly; gruff; ill-humored; ill-humoured

Context example:

a gruff reply

Similar:

ill-natured (having an irritable and unpleasant disposition)

Derivation:

gruffness (an abrupt discourteous manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion

Synonyms:

gruff; hoarse; husky

Context example:

makes all the instruments sound powerful but husky

Similar:

cacophonic; cacophonous (having an unpleasant sound)

Derivation:

gruffness (a throaty harshness)

 Context examples 

"Come in!" and Mr. Laurence's gruff voice sounded gruffer than ever, as Jo tapped at his door.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

M. Krempe was a little squat man with a gruff voice and a repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of his pursuits.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The main object on my mind, I remember, when we got fairly on the road, was to appear as old as possible to the coachman, and to speak extremely gruff.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He was a thin, gruff, bespectacled man of middle age, his cheeks haggard, and his hands twitching from the nervous strain to which he had been subjected.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There had been some talking in gruff voices outside, and now Mrs. Hudson opened the door to say that there were three men inquiring for Captain Basil.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He heard the shrill voices of the women, the gruff basses of the men, and the snarling of the dogs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly fell from her hand.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But the morning passed just as usual: nothing happened to interrupt the quiet course of Adele's studies; only soon after breakfast, I heard some bustle in the neighbourhood of Mr. Rochester's chamber, Mrs. Fairfax's voice, and Leah's, and the cook's—that is, John's wife—and even John's own gruff tones.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The gruff voice was gruffer than ever, as the old gentleman said abruptly, after the dreadful pause, "So you're not afraid of me, hey?"

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mr. Barkis seemed gruff, and answered drily.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)