roynish

adjective

roy·​nish

ˈrȯinish

1

archaic : mangy, scabby

2

archaic : base, coarse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from royne scurf, scab (from Middle French rogne, from—assumed—Vulgar Latin ronea, probably alteration—influenced by Latin rodere to gnaw—of Latin aranea spider, spider web) + -ish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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