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scabrous (SKAB-ruhs) - adj., having a rough surface because covered with minute projections or roughened patches; difficult, knotty; dealing with suggestive, indecent, or scandalous themes, salacious, squalid.
Adopted around 1580 from Latin scabrÅsus, from scaber, scurfy/scabby/rough -- so the scabbed-over skin sense is first. The last sense is by far the most common today, and I've never seen it used in the middle sense at all.
---L.
Adopted around 1580 from Latin scabrÅsus, from scaber, scurfy/scabby/rough -- so the scabbed-over skin sense is first. The last sense is by far the most common today, and I've never seen it used in the middle sense at all.
---L.
