Rough
/rʌf/noun
Having an uneven, coarse, or not smooth surface; also difficult, harsh, or approximate.
Did you know?Its deeper history points back to Proto-Germanic *rukhaz*, a root tied to coarse texture, showing how ancient languages often turned touch into temperament.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rukhaz
“Coarse, rough, shaggy”
Old English
OE
ruh
“Rough, hairy, shaggy, unkempt”
Middle English
ME
rough
“Coarse, uneven, not smooth”
Modern English
English
rough
“Having an uneven or coarse surface; harsh or difficult”