rugged

Definition

Broken into sharp or irregular points; uneven; not smooth; rough.

Etymology

From Middle English rugged, roggyd, ruggyd, derived from Old Norse rǫgg (“tuft, shagginess”), equivalent to rug (“rough, woollen material”) + -ed. Compare Old Swedish ruggoter (“wrinkled”), Swedish rugga (“to roughen”), Swedish ruggig (“shaggy”), Icelandic rögg (“shagginess”), Old Norse raggaðr (“tufted”), dialectal Danish raggad (“shaggy”).

Example Sentences

• "BY and by, after a rugged climb, we halted on the summit of a hill which commanded a far-reaching view."
• "Commercially produced yarn, such as rayon, produces a cloth with a smoother, shinier look than hand-spun cotton, but the uneven, rugged look of hand-spun cotton can be quite appealing."
• "His hair was light and rather thin; his face strong and rugged from exposure, and his eyes narrow and observant."