Ruggedising

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Strengthening equipment or a product so that it can withstand rough use, harsh weather, or demanding environments
2. Making an object sturdier and more resistant to damage so it can endure hard treatment and difficult conditions
3. Toughening a device, vehicle, or structure to give it greater durability against knocks, exposure, and extreme use

Etymology: "Ruggedise" is simply "rugged" with the suffix "-ise" added, so its history is the history of that suffix. The "-ise" ending came into English through Middle English from Middle French "-iser", which in turn came from Late Latin "-izare", itself borrowed from Ancient Greek "-izein" (written "-ῐ́ζω"). In Greek the suffix turned nouns and adjectives into verbs meaning "to make or treat in a certain way", and it spread through Latin and French into English as a general tool for forming new verbs. The base word "rugged" is older and more concrete, describing a surface covered in rough projections or uneven ridges. Adding "-ise" gives the sense of making something rough, uneven or hardy, or of toughening up a product or object so it can withstand harsh conditions. The verb is a modern formation built on that adjective, so its meaning follows the adjective closely.

Synonyms: toughen, harden, fortify, reinforce

Antonyms: weaken, soften