hard-boiled
UK[ˌhɑːd ˈbɔɪld]US[ˌhɑːrd ˈbɔɪld]
adj
(of an egg) boiled until the white and the yolk are solid
adj
(of a person) tough and cynical, especially as a result of difficult experiences
Morpheme Breakdown
hard
boiled
hard
firm
boiled
cooked in boiling water
Etymology
the compound 'hard-boiled' first emerged in the literal culinary context, describing an egg cooked until its interior becomes firm. the term's semantic extension to describe a person's character is a vivid metaphorical shift originating in early 20th-century american english. it draws a direct analogy between the toughened, solidified state of the egg and an individual who has become emotionally resilient or callous through harsh experience. this evolution exemplifies how a concrete, physical process can provide a powerful descriptor for abstract psychological traits.
Analysis
Structure: hard (firm) + boiled (cooked in boiling water)
'hard' is from old english 'heard', meaning solid, firm, or severe. 'boiled' is the past participle of 'boil', from old french 'boillir', ultimately from latin 'bullire', meaning to bubble or seethe.
Examples
he prefers his eggs hard-boiled for his breakfast.
the detective was a typical hard-boiled character, trusting no one and showing little emotion.
after years in the conflict zone, the journalist developed a hard-boiled attitude towards suffering.