Tough
/tʌf/noun
Strong, durable, difficult to break, or hard to deal with.
Did you know?The word’s spelling still hides its history: Old English had a form pronounced much more like “toof,” and the modern /f/ sound comes from centuries of sound change, not a new root.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*tuhwaz
“stiff, firm, strong”
Old English
OE
tōh
“tenacious, tough, viscous, hard to chew”
Middle English
ME
tough
“stiff, strong, difficult to chew or break”
Modern English
English
tough
“strong, durable, hard, or difficult”