TOUGH

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tōh; akin to Old High German zāhi ~ Date: before 12th century 1. strong or firm in texture but flexible and not brittle, not easily chewed , glutinous , sticky , characterized by severity or uncompromising determination , capable of enduring strain, hardship, or severe labor , very hard to influence ; stubborn , difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with , stubbornly fought , unruly , rowdyish , marked by absence of softness or sentimentality , see: strong ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. adverb Date: 14th century in a ~ manner , III. noun Date: 1801 a ~ person ; rowdy , IV. transitive verb Date: 1830 to bear unflinchingly ; endure