DCHP-3

hardrock

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

1an. — Mining

mining in solid rock, especially quartz.

Quotations

1936
"People wouldn't look at hard-rock in them days. Hard-rock takes machinery and money."
1bn. — Mining

(attributive uses) pertaining to such rock or the mining of it.

Quotations

1936
. . . he was looking upon Mona Casper and young Hugh Ludlow, heirs to these mills and timber limits and the precious hard-rock veins in the range yonder.
1957
No trouble getting work out there if you can claim experience as a catskinner, high rigger, hardrock mucker, sidehill gouger, or bullcook.
1963
. . . this traditional hardrock miner's union can do a better job on behalf of mine employees than either Steel or the craft unions.
2an. — Slang

a strong, rough person of great endurance.

Quotations

1950
One night in Parrsboro he ran up against a hardrock from Spencer's Island, and when the fracas ended he had been completely thrashed for the first time in his life.
1964
Murray Balfour, a Chicago Black Hawk hardrock, will accept goals in any form, even if they're scored off his backside.
2bn. — Slang

(attributive uses) characterized by strong, rough, durable behavior.

Quotations

1962
He is truly a hard-rock competitor assuming "policeman" role for [the] Maple Leafs.
1965
Page [is] a hard-rock defensive back. . . .
3n. — Slang

(attributive uses) unyielding; difficult to reason with; hard-headed.

Quotations

1963
Old-line, hardrock Tory Protestants cannot vote for "the Party of the Pope"--that is, the Liberals. . . .