scabrous

adjective sca·brous \ˈska-brəs also ˈskā-\

: having a rough surface

: referring to sex in a rude or shocking way

Full Definition of SCABROUS

: difficult, knotty <a scabrous problem>

: rough to the touch: as

a : having small raised dots, scales, or points <a scabrous leaf>

b : covered with raised, roughened, or unwholesome patches <scabrous paint> <scabrous skin>

: dealing with suggestive, indecent, or scandalous themes : salacious; also : squalid

— sca·brous·ly adverb

— sca·brous·ness noun

See scabrous defined for English-language learners

Origin of SCABROUS

Latin scabr-, scaber rough, scurfy; akin to Latin scabere to scratch — more at scab

First Known Use: 1646

Synonym Discussion of SCABROUS

rough, harsh, uneven, rugged, scabrous mean not smooth or even. rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface <a rough wooden board>. harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch <a harsh fabric that chafes the skin>. uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality <an old house with uneven floors>. rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel <a rugged landscape>. scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface <a scabrous leaf>.