hard-set

[ hahrd-set ]

/ ˈhɑrdˈsɛt /

firmly or rigidly set; fixed: a hard-set smile.

in a difficult position: The troops were hard-set before their supplies came.

determined; obstinate.

Origin of hard-set

1400–50; late Middle English harde set

But with hard-set teeth she told herself that she would not give in.

A Country Sweetheart |Dora Russell
Every egg, unless “hard-set,” should be blown as soon as removed from the nest.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 |Various
Hard-set eggs have been taken in the beginning of September and as late as 27th December.

A Bird Calendar for Northern India |Douglas Dewar
But the season was getting late, and the nests mostly contained young birds, or eggs so hard-set as to be useless.

Haviland's Chum |Bertram Mitford

The hard-set jaw relaxed and his lips melted into a smile under his moustache, and he bent down and kissed her.

A Honeymoon in Space |George Griffith