- Today's Word
Brusque
brusk
Definition
(adjective) Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner; bluntly short to the point of rudeness.
Example
His brusque response left the new intern unsure whether she’d said something wrong or if that was just how he talked to everyone.
Word Origin
From French brusque, meaning “lively, fierce,” which came from Italian brusco, meaning “sharp, tart” — possibly derived from Medieval Latin bruscus, a type of thorny shrub. The word entered English in the mid-17th century, carrying the sense of sharp, prickly quickness — much like the shrub itself.
Fun Fact
Brusque behavior has long been associated with certain professions where efficiency trumps politeness — surgeons, military commanders, and traders all developed reputations for blunt communication. Interestingly, in some Northern European cultures, what English speakers read as “brusque” is simply considered respectful directness. The word’s negative connotation is very culturally dependent — in some contexts, a brusque manner signals competence and confidence rather than rudeness.