hidebound

[hahyd-bound]

See more synonyms for hidebound on Thesaurus.com

adjective

narrow and rigid in opinion; inflexible: a hidebound pedant.
oriented toward or confined to the past; extremely conservative: a hidebound philosopher.
(of a horse, cow, etc.) having the back and ribs bound tightly by the hide.

Origin of hidebound

First recorded in 1550–60; hide² + -bound¹

Related formshide·bound·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hidebound

Contemporary Examples

The GOP is still struggling to shed its hidebound, out-of-touch image, especially with voters not yet drawing Social Security.
Why America Needs Cheney. No, the Other Cheney.
Michelle Cottle
April 23, 2014
Change is a necessary part of life, even in hidebound Washington.
Odd Ideas, Short Tempers, Great Abs
Michelle Cottle
January 4, 2013

Historical Examples

I am thankful that Lady Hamilton and I are not hidebound by any such superstitions.
The Admiral
Douglas Sladen
Not depraved, certainly, unless you insist on judging it by a hidebound ethic.
Earthsmith
Milton Lesser
It is more free and easy, not so hidebound and overrun with hypocrisy.
The Cottage of Delight
Will N. Harben
He comes from a part of the country that's not so hidebound by caste as this country.
Nobody's Child
Elizabeth Dejeans
The Amphibs were, in their way, as hidebound—no pun intended—as the Land-walkers.
Rastignac the Devil
Philip Jos Farmer

British Dictionary definitions for hidebound

hidebound

adjective

restricted by petty rules, a conservative attitude, etc
(of cattle, etc) having the skin closely attached to the flesh as a result of poor feeding
(of trees) having a very tight bark that impairs growth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hidebound

adj.

1550s, from hide (n.1) + past tense of bind (v.). Original reference is to emaciated cattle with skin sticking closely to backbones and ribs; metaphoric sense of "restricted by narrow attitudes" is first recorded c.1600.

hidebound

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Examples from the Web for hidebound

Contemporary Examples

The GOP is still struggling to shed its hidebound, out-of-touch image, especially with voters not yet drawing Social Security.

Change is a necessary part of life, even in hidebound Washington.

Historical Examples

I am thankful that Lady Hamilton and I are not hidebound by any such superstitions.

Not depraved, certainly, unless you insist on judging it by a hidebound ethic.

It is more free and easy, not so hidebound and overrun with hypocrisy.

He comes from a part of the country that's not so hidebound by caste as this country.

The Amphibs were, in their way, as hidebound—no pun intended—as the Land-walkers.

hidebound

Word Origin and History for hidebound

adj.

Origin of hidebound