noun
also toughy ˈtəfē, -fi
( plural toughies )
Etymology: tough (I) + -ie
: one that is tough: as
a. : a loud rowdy person : tough character
a square-jawed toughie who is not taking anything from anybody — Brand Blanshard
b. : a very intricate or difficult problem
had worked on some real toughies … but this one topped them all — Franklin Sharpe
c. : a hard-boiled piece of writing
the straight-out detective story as distinguished from … the toughie — Sergeant Cuff