Rough diamond

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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      (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.
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                More unequal than the roughest sea. --T. Burnet.
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      (d) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; --
          said of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough
          coat. "A visage rough." --Dryden. "Roughsatyrs."
          --Milton.
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   2. Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or
      polish. Specifically:
      (a) Not courteous or kind; harsh; rude; uncivil; as, a
          rough temper.
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                A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough. --Shak.
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                A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds.
                                                  --Prior.
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      (b) Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as, rough
          measures or actions.
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                On the rough edge of battle.      --Milton.
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                A quicker and rougher remedy.     --Clarendon.
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                Kind words prevent a good deal of that
                perverseness which rough and imperious usage
                often produces.                   --Locke.
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      (c) Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating;
          -- said of sound, voice, and the like; as, a rough
          tone; rough numbers. --Pope.
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      (d) Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine.
      (e) Tempestuous; boisterous; stormy; as, rough weather; a
          rough day.
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                He stayeth his rough wind.        --Isa. xxvii.
                                                  8.
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                Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
                                                  --Shak.
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      (f) Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish;
          incomplete; as, a rough estimate; a rough draught.
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   {Rough diamond}, an uncut diamond; hence, colloquially, a
      person of intrinsic worth under a rude exterior.

   {Rough and ready}.
      (a) Acting with offhand promptness and efficiency. "The
          rough and ready understanding." --Lowell.
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      (b) Produced offhand. "Some rough and ready theory."
          --Tylor.
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