Definition of hardness
1
: the quality or state of being hard
2a
: the cohesion of the particles on the surface of a mineral as determined by its capacity to scratch another or be itself scratched — compare mohs' scale
b
: resistance of metal to indentation under a static load or to scratching
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for hardness
The first known use of hardness was before the 12th century
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