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.
   (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.

More unequal than the roughest sea. --T. Burnet.
   (d) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; -- said of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough coat. ``A visage rough.'' --Dryden. ``Roughsatyrs.'' --Milton.

2. Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or polish. Specifically:
   (a) Not courteous or kind; harsh; rude; uncivil; as, a rough temper.

A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough. --Shak.

A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds. --Prior.
   (b) Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as, rough measures or actions.

On the rough edge of battle. --Milton.

A quicker and rougher remedy. --Clarendon.

Kind words prevent a good deal of that perverseness which rough and imperious usage often produces. --Locke.
   (c) Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, voice, and the like; as, a rough tone; rough numbers. --Pope.
   (d) Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine.
   (e) Tempestuous; boisterous; stormy; as, rough weather; a rough day.

He stayeth his rough wind. --Isa. xxvii. 8.

Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. --Shak.
   (f) Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish; incomplete; as, a rough estimate; a rough draught.

Rough diamond, an uncut diamond; hence, colloquially, a person of intrinsic worth under a rude exterior.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Rough \Rough\, n.

1. Boisterous weather. [Obs.]

--Fletcher.

2. A rude fellow; a coarse bully; a rowdy.

In the rough, in an unwrought or rude condition; unpolished; as, a diamond or a sketch in the rough.

Contemplating the people in the rough. --Mrs. Browning.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Rough \Rough\, adv. In a rough manner; rudely; roughly.

Sleeping rough on the trenches, and dying stubbornly in their boats. --Sir W. Scott.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Rough \Rough\, v. t.

1. To render rough; to roughen.

2. To break in, as a horse, especially for military purposes. --Crabb.

3. To cut or make in a hasty, rough manner; -- with out; as, to rough out a carving, a sketch.

Roughing rolls, rolls for reducing, in a rough manner, a bloom of iron to bars.

To rough it, to endure hard conditions of living; to live without ordinary comforts.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)