What does "rugged" mean?
Rugged: Not neat or regular; uneven. His well-proportioned beard made rough and rugged. Shak.
Additional senses
- 2.Rough with bristles or hair; shaggy. "The rugged Russian bear." Shak.
- 3.Harsh; hard; crabbed; austere; -- said of temper, character, and the like, or of persons. Neither melt nor endear him, but leave him as hard, rugged, and unconcerned as ever. South.
- 4.Stormy; turbulent; tempestuous; rude. Milton.
- 5.Rough to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, style, and the like. Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line. Dryden.
- 6.Sour; surly; frowning; wrinkled; -- said of looks, etc. "Sleek o'er your rugged looks." Shak.
- 7.Violent; rude; boisterrous; -- said of conduct, manners, etc.
- 8.Vigorous; robust; hardy; -- said of health, physique, etc. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Rug"ged*ly, adv. -- Rug"ged*ness, n.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00