scabrous

sca·brous

adj \ˈska-brəs also ˈskā-\

Definition of SCABROUS

1

: difficult, knotty <a scabrous problem>

2

: 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>

3

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

— sca·brous·ly adverb

— sca·brous·ness noun

Examples of SCABROUS

1. a movie with scabrous humor

Origin of SCABROUS

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

First Known Use: 1646