scabrous

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Covered with scales or scabs

   Covered with scales or scabs; hence, very coarse or rough.

   • After the incident with the gasoline, Noel’s burnt arm remained scabrous and was susceptible to infections.
   • I was ſurpriz'd to ſee Mars continue quite round, though hardly, to Appearance, disjoin'd from the ſcabrous Edge of the Moon; but that Inſtant I thought it began to loſe its Figure.—Clouds.
2. 2

   Disgusting, repellent.

   • The novel was a flagrantly scabrous bodice-ripper, and Rachael was ashamed to read it in public.
   • This typifies the man, body and soul, who is transformed after Baptism, that is to say, after the entrance of the priest, and then takes up once more the scabrous contaminations of the flesh.
   • In the Pilot Plan, women shop in brightly lit, hygienic supermarkets; in the Social Security Invasion, they must be content with tiny rat-infested shops or scabrous open air markets.
3. 3

   Salacious, scandalous

   Salacious, scandalous; concerning oneself with lurid or lascivious substance.

   • Remember a few years ago there was that scabrous movie Snuff? When it played in New York there were enormous protests, huge publicity — and huge crowds and profits at the theater.
4. ›+ 4 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Of music, writing, etc.

      Of music, writing, etc.: lacking refinement; unmelodious, unmusical.

   2. 5

      Difficult, thorny, troublesome, requiring tact.

   3. 6

      Covered with a crust of dirt or grime.

      • She twisted her head away from him and stared at the scabrous papered wall beside the bed.
   4. 7

      Having scabers.

The neighborhood

• neighborscab
• neighborscaberulous
• neighborscabies