case-hardenv.
/ˈkeɪsˌhɑːdn/, U.S. /ˈkeɪsˌhɑrd(ə)n/ 1.
a. transitive. To cause to harden on the surface; spec. to give (iron or steel) a hardened outer layer, as by heating in a suitable environment followed by quenching.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > harden, temper, or anneal > in specific way
case-harden1665
chill1831
box-annealc1887
pot anneal1928
work-harden1928
quench-harden1934
solution-treat1940
shot-peen1944
marquench1947
martemper1947
marage1962
cyanide1966
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 52 Any Iron may, in a very little time, be case hardned, as the Trades-men call it.
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iii. 54 Rasps have formerly been made of Iron and Case-hardned, because it makes the outside of them hard.
1748 J. Colson tr. J. A. Nollet Lect. in Exper. Philos. 102 A Workman skilled in Clock-Work, in Mathematical Instruments, in Goldsmiths Work, &c. never fails to case-harden his Work.
1761 G. Hayden in B. Martin Misc. Corr. (1764) IV. 772/1 His shield, case-harden'd by Vulcanian arts, Receives his thunder, and repels his darts.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 647 The rims of wheels thus constructed, can also be case-hardened without risk of breaking.
1864 Daily Tel. 11 Aug. Till the ship-men find some way of case-hardening their plates.
1879 C. W. Vincent Muspratt's Chem., Theoret., Pract., & Analyt. (new ed.) II. 336/1 [Tanning.] The object being to case-harden the grain and the flesh, just enough to prevent any loss of pelt.
1947 A. O. R. Johnson & J. L. Daniels in P. I. Smith Pract. Plastics xiv. 192/1 After machining, the hobbed blanks are case-hardened and polished.
2001 Wired Feb. 138/3 The Ferrium C69 blade was machine-cut, then ‘case hardened’.
b. intransitive. To bring about case-hardening.
ΚΠ
1873 A. W. Chase Family Physician 234 Which the patentee..claims will Case-Harden deeper than the older way.
1920 Gas Age 25 Dec. 534/1 Now, however, the additional step has been taken; so that it is possible to case-harden without other fuel or carbonaceous material than the ordinary city gas.
1995 J. R. Davis Tool Materials 334/1 Common methods of heat treating the mold steels are to case harden by carburizing [etc.].
c. intransitive. To undergo case-hardening; to acquire a hardened outer layer.
ΚΠ
1882 M. Reynolds Stationary Engine Driving (ed. 2) ii. 16 To case-harden properly, the iron must be thoroughly clean and bright.
1917 J. B. Wagner Seasoning of Wood viii. 133 Rapidly dried in the kiln, the wood of oak and other hardwoods ‘case-harden’.
1977 K. Erlandson Home Smoking & Curing v. 22 Beef and fish should be protected from a drying wind when pre-drying, otherwise they will case harden.
1993 K. Nagdi Rubber as Engin. Material v. 43 NBR compounds..tend to embrittle or case harden when exposed to permanent temperature above 120°C.
2. transitive. figurative. To harden in constitution or spirit; to make callous or indifferent; to desensitize.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > make emotionally unfeeling [verb (transitive)] > make hard or callous
hardc1325
hardenc1350
engrege1382
endurec1384
indurec1450
indurate1538
obduratea1540
brawn1571
hard heart1581
sear1582
cauterize1587
myrmidonize1593
obdure1598
Gorgonize1609
stonea1616
petrifya1631
petrificate1647
roborate1652
case-harden1687
ossify1803
hard-boil1929
1687 H. Aldrich Reply 2 Disc. viii. sig. F2 'Tis certain that no man can become a Thorough Convert of this Authors, till his Brains be Case-hardned to be proof against all manner of contradictions.
1713 R. Steele in Guardian 30 June 2/2 Adieu, old Fellow..E'en get thy self Case-harden'd.
1755 Gentleman's Mag. Feb. 60/2 Absolutely necessary for the further case-hardening our hero.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker III. 245 Now and then take a plunge amidst the waves of excess, in order to case-harden the constitution.
1817 M. Edgeworth Ormond II. xxvi. 169 Though he had pretty well case-hardened his heart, yet he was shocked by the first news of the death of Sir Herbert Annaly.
1871 R. H. Hutton Ess. I. 124 He can so easily case-harden his spirit against the supernatural pain.
1927 H. Kemp Bronze Treasury 260 The importance of the Gothic and Romantic elements in literature, in contradistinction to the classic influence, which was rapidly case-hardening English poetry.
1965 Life 26 Nov. 5/2 Mike was shipped to Algeria and spent six months being case-hardened as a legionnaire.
2012 Agence France Presse (Nexis) 17 July I'm not worried about it, the opportunity is unique because we are case hardening ourselves.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
v.1665