hidebound
UK[ˈhaɪdbaʊnd]US[ˈhaɪdbaʊnd]
adj
Having rigidly traditional or narrow attitudes, resistant to change.
adj
(Of an animal, especially livestock) Having the skin tight over the bones and ribs due to poor feeding or disease.
Morpheme Breakdown
hide
bound
hide
skin
bound
tied
Etymology
The word "hidebound" originated in 16th-century English agricultural terminology. It literally described a condition in cattle where the skin was so tight it seemed bound to the body, a symptom of malnutrition or illness. This vivid physical image was then metaphorically extended to describe people whose minds are similarly constricted, as if their intellectual "skin" is too tight to allow for new ideas or growth. The logic of the word perfectly captures the transition from a concrete, physiological state to an abstract critique of rigid, inflexible thinking.
Analysis
Structure: hide (skin) + bound (tied)
- hide: Old English hȳd (skin, pelt). A noun functioning as the base element, referring literally to an animal's skin.
- bound: Past participle of the verb bind, from Old English bindan. Functions as a suffix-like element meaning "confined by" or "tied by."
Examples
The company failed to innovate because its hidebound management rejected all new proposals.
His hidebound adherence to outdated customs made him unpopular with the younger generation.
The veterinarian was concerned about the hidebound appearance of the neglected horse.