If you describe a person or their behaviour as brusque, you mean that they deal with things, or say things, quickly and shortly, so that they seem to be rude. The doctors are brusque and busy They received a characteristically brusque reply from him. = abrupt + brusquely brusque·ly `It's only a sprain,' Paula said brusquely. using very few words in a way that seems rude = abrupt (brusco, from bruscus type of bush with sharp points)