Advertisement
Entries linking to toughness
tough (adj.)Old English toh "strong and firm in texture, tenacious, sticky," from Proto-Germanic *tanhu- (source also of Middle Low German tege, Middle Dutch taey, Dutch taai, Old High German zach, German zäh), which Watkins suggests is from PIE *denk- "to bite," from the notion of "holding fast." See rough for spelling change.
From c. 1200 as "strong, powerful;" c. 1300 as "not tender or fragile;" early 14c. as "difficult to chew," also "hard to endure." Figurative sense of "steadfast" is mid-14c.; that of "hard to do, trying, laborious" is from 1610s. Verb tough it "endure the experience" is first recorded 1830, American English. Tough guy attested from 1901. Tough-minded first recorded 1907 in William James. Tough luck first recorded 1912; tough shit, dismissive retort to a complaint, is from 1946.
From c. 1200 as "strong, powerful;" c. 1300 as "not tender or fragile;" early 14c. as "difficult to chew," also "hard to endure." Figurative sense of "steadfast" is mid-14c.; that of "hard to do, trying, laborious" is from 1610s. Verb tough it "endure the experience" is first recorded 1830, American English. Tough guy attested from 1901. Tough-minded first recorded 1907 in William James. Tough luck first recorded 1912; tough shit, dismissive retort to a complaint, is from 1946.
-ness
word-forming element denoting action, quality, or state, attached to an adjective or past participle to form an abstract noun, from Old English -nes(s), from Proto-Germanic *in-assu- (cognates: Old Saxon -nissi, Middle Dutch -nisse, Dutch -nis, Old High German -nissa, German -nis, Gothic -inassus), from *-in-, originally belonging to the noun stem, + *-assu-, abstract noun suffix, probably from the same root as Latin -tudo (see -tude).
Share toughness
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/toughness
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/toughness">Etymology of toughness by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of toughness. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/toughness
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of toughness,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/toughness.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of toughness.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/toughness. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of toughness.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/toughness (accessed $(datetime)).
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of toughness
toughness (n.)
enduring strength and energy;
toughness (n.)
the property of being big and strong;
Synonyms: huskiness / ruggedness
toughness (n.)
the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking;
Synonyms: temper
toughness (n.)
impressive difficulty;
Synonyms: formidability