What does "gruff" mean as in "Three Billy Goats Gruff"?

looney_tunes

I come up with 'fizz'. This doesn't make sense, but I offer it for what it is worth. Someone with a better Norwegian-English translation source can undoubtedly offer a better answer! The original Norwegian title of the story was "De tre bukkene Bruse". Bruse appears to be the family name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billy_Goats_Gruff According to google translate, bruse translates into fizz. http://translate.google.com/#no|en|bruse Jun 04 10, 10:30 PM

looney_tunes

Here is a simple definition of the word 'gruff', but I cannot link the usual meaning of the word with a reason for applying it to the story in place of the original name. Noe of them was particularly gruff in the standard recounting of the story 1. low and harsh; hoarse: a gruff voice. 2. rough, brusque, or surly: a gruff manner. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gruff This version just says that it is their family name. http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0122e.html Jun 04 10, 10:38 PM

Datsmeharse

Ah, so it could just as easily been the Three Billy Goats Amundsen, or Munch. Well, Three Billy Goats Munch would be misleading too. Thanks! Jun 05 10, 9:37 AM