Abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt. See Synonyms at gruff.
[French, lively, fierce, from Italian brusco, coarse, rough, from Late Latin brscum, perhaps blend of Latin rscus, butcher's broom, and Late Latin brcus, heather; see briar1.]
sk)
scum, perhaps blend of Latin r
ly adv.