Abrupt or curt in manner; speaking or behaving in a rough, unfriendly way without wasting words.
From French 'brusque' (16th century), possibly from Italian 'brusco' meaning rough or sharp, or from Romansh 'brusca'. The word traveled through European languages as trade and culture mixed.
Brusque is the fancy spelling, while 'brusk' is a simpler variant—language is full of these spelling variations that come from different dialects and historical preferences!
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