Hardcase

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who is tough or unyielding in attitude or behavior ; a strong, durable container designed to protect items from damage
2. Someone known for being stubborn or difficult to manage ; a robust case made to shield delicate or valuable objects during transport
3. An individual with a resolute, hard-nosed personality ; a reliable, heavy-duty enclosure used to guard belongings against impact or wear

Etymology: "Hardcase" is simply the closed-up spelling of "hard case," and the two-word form is where the history lies. In the phrase, "hard" carries its old sense of difficult or tough, and "case" in the sense of a particular instance or situation, so a hard case is a situation or person that resists easy handling. The noun has since split into two senses: a person who is stubborn or hard to manage, and a sturdy container built to protect fragile or valuable items during transport. The two meanings share the same underlying idea of resistance. A hard case in the protective sense is built to withstand rough treatment, and a hard case in the personal sense is a character who will not yield, so the word describes something that holds its shape under pressure whether it is a box or a person.