What is the Latin word for gruff?

The usual Latin words for “gruff” are mōrōsus, acerbus, stomachōsus; also dūrus, asper. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“gruff” in Latin

mōrōsuscaptious, persnickety, fastidious, difficult (to please); peevish, wayward, capricious acerbusharsh, bitter, unripe, sour, premature, not yet marriageable; sharp, severe, bitter (i.e., extremely painful); rough, vi stomachōsuswrathful, angry; grumpy dūrushard; rough; harsh; hardy; vigorous asperrough, uneven, coarse; unrefined, rude; sharp, newly minted

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

gruff

Surly, etc., morosus: acerbus: stomachosus.

Harsh, etc., durus (opposed to flexibility): asper (opposed to levis, both of the voice).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for gruff?: The usual Latin words for “gruff” are mōrōsus, acerbus, stomachōsus; also dūrus, asper. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.