brusque
BRUSKadjMeaning abrupt and short in speech or manner
Memory hook BRUSK: a quick BRUSH-off. Nell asks a hurrying man for directions, and he brushes her off with one word, “Busy,” and keeps walking. A brush-off that quick is brusque.
The busy clerk gave a brusque nod and turned to the next customer.
In context Usually warm and chatty, the coach was brusque that morning: he said “Laps. Now.” and walked off before anyone could ask a question.
Similar abrupt, blunt, short, gruff
Opposite gracious, warm, courteous
From French brusque, “lively, fierce,” from Italian brusco, “sour.”