'brutishness' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'brutish' combined with the suffix '-ness' to denote a state or quality.

'brutish' came into English from Middle English (also as 'brutish'), influenced by Old French 'brut' and ultimately from Latin 'brūtus'. The modern noun 'brutishness' developed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to 'brutish'.

Initially related to Latin 'brūtus' meaning 'heavy, dull, or stupid', the sense evolved through Old French and Middle English to describe behaviour like that of a 'brute'—now 'brutishness' denotes cruelty, savagery, or coarse, animal-like qualities.