Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rugged \Rug"ged\, a. [See {Rug}, n.]
   1. Full of asperities on the surface; broken into sharp or
      irregular points, or otherwise uneven; not smooth; rough;
      as, a rugged mountain; a rugged road.

            The rugged bark of some broad elm.    --Milton.

   2. Not neat or regular; uneven.

            His well-proportioned beard made rough and rugged.
                                                  --Shak.

   3. Rough with bristles or hair; shaggy. ``The rugged Russian
      bear.'' --Shak.

   4. Harsh; hard; crabbed; austere; -- said of temper,
      character, and the like, or of persons.

            Neither melt nor endear him, but leave him as hard,
            rugged, and unconcerned as ever.      --South.

   5. Stormy; turbulent; tempestuous; rude. --Milton.

   6. Rough to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, style,
      and the like.

            Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line.
                                                  --Dryden.

   7. Sour; surly; frowning; wrinkled; -- said of looks, etc.
      ``Sleek o'er your rugged looks.'' --Shak.

   8. Violent; rude; boisterrous; -- said of conduct, manners,
      etc.

   9. Vigorous; robust; hardy; -- said of health, physique, etc.
      [Colloq. U.S.]

   Syn: Rough; uneven; wrinkled; cragged; coarse; rude; harsh;
        hard; crabbed; severe; austere; surly; sour; frowning;
        violent; boisterous; tumultuous; turbulent; stormy;
        tempestuous; inclement. -- {Rug"ged*ly}, adv. --
        {Rug"ged*ness}, n.

Source : WordNet®

rugged
     adj 1: sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring;
            "a rugged trapper who spent months in the winderness";
            "those that survive are stalwart rugged men"; "with a
            house full of boys you have to have rugged furniture"
            [ant: {delicate}]
     2: topographically very uneven; "broken terrain"; "rugged
        ground" [syn: {broken}]
     3: rocky and steep [syn: {craggy}]
     4: very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution; "a
        rugged competitive examination"; "the rugged conditions of
        frontier life"; "the competition was tough"; "it's a tough
        life"; "it was a tough job" [syn: {tough}]