Hardscrabble

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈhÉ‘rdËŒskræbÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -æbÉ™l

Origin

hard + scrabble

Full definition of hardscrabble

Adjective

1. Of or pertaining to land that takes a lot of work in order to farm and even then is not very productive.
• 1922: Rex Ellingwood Beach, Flowing GoldIn the case of Allegheny Briskow, poverty, the drought, the grinding hardships of these hard-scrabble Texas counties, had dwarfed the intellect, the very soul of a splendid young animal.