scabrous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   dealing with indecent, salacious, or scandalous subject matter

   The memoir became notorious for its scabrous anecdotes about public figures.

2. 2
   adj

   rough, scaly, or covered with small projections

   The plant's scabrous leaves felt harsh against her fingers.

3. 3
   adj

   difficult, awkward, or requiring tact to handle

   The negotiators avoided the most scabrous question until the final session.

From Latin scaber ("rough, scabby") and scabrōsus, related to scabere ("to scratch"). The physical sense "rough" developed figuratively into "difficult or hazardous" and then "indecent or scandalous."

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