vbl. sb. The process expressed by the verb CASE-HARDEN. a. lit.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 54. The manner of Case-hardening is thus. Take Cow-horn or Hoof, [etc.].
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, I. 8. The depth of the steel induced by case-hardening.
1866. Livingstone, Jrnl., iv. (1873), I. 89. They are unacquainted with the process of case-hardening.
b. transf. and fig.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 60/2. Absolutely necessary for the further case-hardening our hero without.
1813. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1839), IV. 128. A few years of … oppression would bring us back to the same case-hardening in body and sentiment.
