tough etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: togh, tugh
• Old English: tōh

Meaning:

• Firm, inflexible, or difficult to break
• Demanding or challenging
• Difficult to persuade or convince
• Resistant to change or influence

Origin:

The word "tough" is of Proto-Germanic origin, derived from the hypothetical root "*tauhan-" meaning "to stretch" or "to be strong."

Development:

• In Old English, "tōh" initially meant "stretched" or "drawn out."
• By the Middle English period, it had acquired the sense of "strong" or "firm."
• By the 16th century, the term had developed its current meanings of "difficult" and "demanding."

Cognates:

• German: zäh
• Dutch: taai
• Swedish: seg
• Danish: sej

Related Words:

• Toughen: to make or become tough
• Toughness: the quality of being tough
• Tough guy: a person who projects an image of toughness
• Tough love: a parenting style that emphasizes strict discipline and high expectations
• Tough it out: to endure hardship or difficulty

tough relate terms

• rough

  Etymology rough adj Middle English rough from Old English rūh of unknown origin

• taut

  Etymology The word taut comes from the Middle English word taut meaning stretched t

• tough

  Etymology Middle English togh tugh Old English tōh Meaning Firm inflexible o

• taunt

  Etymology The word taunt comes from the Middle English tanten or tanten meaning

• though

  Etymology Though is derived from the Old English word þēah which means although

• tender

  Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

• tender

  Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

• diphtheria

  Etymology Derived from Ancient Greek διφθέρα diphthera meaning leathery me

• hickory

  Etymology The word hickory is derived from the Powhatan Algonquian word pohikory wh

• bogart

  Etymology and Meaning The word bogart comes from the Dutch word bogert or bogerd w

• hard

  Etymology Hard is an adjective derived from the Old English word heard meaning stro

• problematic

  Problematic Etymology Problematic etymology refers to the difficulty in determining the o

• dowry

  Etymology Middle English dowarie dowaire Old French douaire Late Latin Vulgar Latin