rugged

Where does the word "rugged" come from? It comes from Swedish rugga, passing through Middle English before entering English (1600s).

Rugged’s story begins in Swedish: rugga meant “to ruffle, make rough.” A Scandinavian verb for roughening or ruffling cloth, related to 'rug'. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as rugged. First described shaggy, rough-haired coats and animals. It reached English by 1600s as rugged. Extended to broken, rocky terrain and later to tough, weathered people. Today, rugged means having a rough, uneven surface; strongly built and tough.

1. Stage 1 · Swedish · medieval rugga "to ruffle, make rough", a Scandinavian verb for roughening or ruffling cloth, related to 'rug'.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s rugged "shaggy, rough", first described shaggy, rough-haired coats and animals.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s rugged "rough and uneven; tough", extended to broken, rocky terrain and later to tough, weathered people.