Uncouth

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Unknown. [Obs.] "This uncouth errand." Milton. To leave the good that I had in hand, In hope of better that was uncouth. Spenser.

2. Uncommon; rare; exquisite; elegant. [Obs.] Harness . . . so uncouth and so rish. Chaucer.

3. Unfamiliar; strange; hence, mysterious; dreadful; also, odd; awkward; boorish; as, uncouth manners. "Uncouth in guise and gesture." I. Taylor. I am surprised with an uncouth fear. Shak. Thus sang the uncouth swain. Milton.

Synonyms: See Awkward. Un*couth"ly, adv. Un*couth"ness, n.