tough English · revision 3071

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 700|origins=gem-pro *tanhuz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tʌf/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|tough]], also toge and togh,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|tōh|t=strong and firm in texture; tenacious]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*tanhuz]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) which Watkins traces to [[ine-pro|*denk-|t=to bite]], on the notion of holding fast.^(Etymonline) It is cognate with Dutch taai and German zäh,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and Barnhart relates it to [[tongs]].^(Barnhart 1988) The spelling is like that of [[rough]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[taut]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of close, cohesive texture, bending without breaking: about 700.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Strong, powerful”, and of battles “stiff, severe”, are from about 1200.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Physical endurance is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “hard to chew” from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense “steadfast, hard to influence” is from about 1400,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “stubborn, hardened” from 1603,^(Barnhart 1988) and “hard to do, laborious” from 1619.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The noun, a street ruffian, is American English from 1866,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''tough it'', “to endure”, from 1830.^(Etymonline) Of hard circumstances, American colloquial use is by 1890, ''tough luck'' by 1912, and ''tough guy'' from 1901.^(Etymonline) ''Tough as old boots'' is from the mid-19th century, earlier ''tough as leather'',^(Cresswell 2021) and ''tough love'' is American from the 1960s.^(Cresswell 2021) “Uncompromising, strict”, as in ''tough on crime'', is from 1906.^(OED 1989) ''Toughen'' is from 1582.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 700 – tenacious, firm in texture.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – strong; severe.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – steadfast, hard to influence.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1619 – hard to do.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1830 – ''tough it''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1866 – noun, a ruffian.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1906 – uncompromising.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1960s – ''tough love''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Strong and [[resilient]]; able to bear strain without breaking.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Hard to cut or chew.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Physically or mentally hardy; able to endure hardship.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Difficult to do or deal with: ''a tough question''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Strict or uncompromising: ''tough on crime''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Rough or violent; [[aggressive]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Unfortunate: ''tough luck''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rough, violent person; a [[thug]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''tough it out'': to endure a hardship.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[toughly]]

+ * [[toughness]]

+ * [[untough]]

+ * [[supertough]]

+ * [[tough-minded]]

+ * [[toughen]]

+ * [[toughie]]

+ * [[toughish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tongs]]

+ * [[taut]]

+ * [[rough]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}