Surly
/ˈsɜːrli/noun
Bad-tempered, unfriendly, or stern in manner.
Did you know?Surly comes from an old form meaning “lordly” or “haughty,” and its modern sense of rude, gruff behavior developed as an ironic twist on aristocratic pride.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
OF
sourly / seurly
“lordly, princely, haughty”
Middle English
ME
surlie
“arrogant, proud, overbearing”
16th Century
English
surly
“haughty, imperious; later rude and bad-tempered”
Modern English
English
surly
“bad-tempered, unfriendly, or gruff”