noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English toughnes, from tough (I) + -nes -ness
1. : the quality or state of being tough
had a physical and moral toughness of fibre which enabled him … to endure misfortune — Sir Winston Churchill
2. : the ability of a metal to absorb considerable energy before fracture
3. : the quality of a paint or coating that causes it to resist chipping, abrasion, or cracking