hard-ass
UK[ˈhɑːd ˌæs]US[ˈhɑːrd ˌæs]
n
A person who is very strict, tough, or uncompromising, especially in a position of authority.
Morpheme Breakdown
hard
ass
hard
firm, severe
ass
person, individual
Etymology
The compound "hard-ass" is a modern American slang term originating in the mid-20th century. It combines the adjective "hard," with its long-established meanings of rigidity, severity, and lack of leniency, with the vulgar slang noun "ass," used as a derogatory but commonplace term for a person. The construction follows a familiar English pattern for creating pejorative agent nouns (e.g., smart-ass, dumb-ass, lazy-ass), where an adjective is fused with "-ass" to label someone defined by that trait. The term's logic is transparently literal: a "hard ass" is metaphorically a person who is inflexible and tough, much like the adjective describes.
Analysis
Structure: hard (firm, severe) + ass (person, individual)
- hard: From Old English heard (solid, firm, severe, harsh). Germanic origin. Functions as an adjective describing a quality.
- ass: From a slang shortening of asshole, used informally to refer to a person. Functions as a noun suffix denoting a person characterized by the preceding adjective.
Examples
The new drill sergeant was a real hard-ass, making everyone run five extra miles.
You don't have to be such a hard-ass about the rules; a little flexibility would help morale.
She earned a reputation as a hard-ass negotiator who never conceded a point without a fight.