- Rough diamond
- Rough Rough, a. [Compar. {Rougher}; superl. {Roughest}.] [OE.
rou?, rou, row, rugh, ruh, AS. r?h; akin to LG. rug, D. rug,
D. ruig, ruw, OHG. r?h, G. rauh, rauch; cf. Lith. raukas
wrinkle, rukti to wrinkle. [root] 18. Cf. {Rug}, n.]
1. Having inequalities, small ridges, or points, on the
surface; not smooth or plain; as, a rough board; a rough
stone; rough cloth. Specifically:
(a) Not level; having a broken surface; uneven; -- said of
a piece of land, or of a road. ``Rough, uneven ways.''
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
(b) Not polished; uncut; -- said of a gem; as, a rough
diamond.
(c) Tossed in waves; boisterous; high; -- said of a sea or
other piece of water.
[1913 Webster]
More unequal than the roughest sea. --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster] (d) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; -- said of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough coat. ``A visage rough.'' --Dryden. ``Roughsatyrs.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or polish. Specifically: (a) Not courteous or kind; harsh; rude; uncivil; as, a rough temper. [1913 Webster]
A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds. --Prior. [1913 Webster] (b) Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as, rough measures or actions. [1913 Webster]
On the rough edge of battle. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
A quicker and rougher remedy. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
Kind words prevent a good deal of that perverseness which rough and imperious usage often produces. --Locke. [1913 Webster] (c) Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, voice, and the like; as, a rough tone; rough numbers. --Pope. [1913 Webster] (d) Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine. (e) Tempestuous; boisterous; stormy; as, rough weather; a rough day. [1913 Webster]
He stayeth his rough wind. --Isa. xxvii. 8. [1913 Webster]
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (f) Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish; incomplete; as, a rough estimate; a rough draught. [1913 Webster]
{Rough diamond}, an uncut diamond; hence, colloquially, a person of intrinsic worth under a rude exterior.
{Rough and ready}. (a) Acting with offhand promptness and efficiency. ``The rough and ready understanding.'' --Lowell. [1913 Webster] (b) Produced offhand. ``Some rough and ready theory.'' --Tylor. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
