ˈrəgə̇d adjective
( often -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from (assumed) rug rag, tuft (of Scandinavian origin) + -ed; akin to Old Norse rögg tuft, shagginess — more at rug
1. obsolete
a. : rough with bristles or hair : shaggy
b. : having a coarse or hairy texture — used of clothing and textiles
2. : having a rough, uneven, or irregular surface or broken jagged outline or contour
a rugged mountain range
a steep and rugged ascent — John Burroughs
cascades, canyons, deep gorges, and rugged profiles — American Guide Series: Maine
3. : marked by storm or tempest : wild
the ruggedest weather in all No. America — dull, damp, chilly, and beset unendingly by storms — A.H.Farnsworth
4. : rough to the ear : harsh-sounding
a book so rugged in its style, that an attempt to polish it seemed an Herculean labor — William Cowper
5.
a. : seamed with wrinkles and furrows : vigorous , weathered — used of a human face
b. : showing facial signs of physical or moral strength : sturdy
a certain determination that was inseparable from the rugged countenance — Louis Bromfield
6.
a. : austere or stern in aspect, conduct, or character : harsh , ungentle
b. : wanting in civility or cultivation : coarse , rude
c. : unpolished but sturdy
7.
a. : strongly built or constituted : hardy , robust , vigorous
those that survive are stalwart, rugged men — L.D.Stamp
the rugged steel sections are given a heavy coating or pure zinc — advt
b. : presenting a severe test of ability, stamina, or resolution
a rugged competitive exam
the rugged conditions of frontier life
Synonyms: see rough