hardscrabble

[ hahrd-skrab-uh l ]

/ ˈhɑrdˌskræb əl /

providing or yielding meagerly in return for much effort; demanding or unrewarding: the hardscrabble existence of mountainside farmers.

Origin of hardscrabble

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; hard + scrabble

Their harrowing escape to Erbil has ended in a precarious and hardscrabble existence.

Church Bells Fall Silent in Mosul as Iraq’s Christians Flee |Andrew Doran, Drew Bowling |June 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But this hardscrabble, prairie town, with its population of 5,000 people, cast its charm on Ballantine.

Death in the Heartland: What Happened to Steven Haataja? |Tim Teeman |March 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
For many fans, her hardscrabble youth and rough-and-tumble style were viewed as endearing strengths.

ESPN’s ‘The Price of Gold’ Revisits the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Scandal |Amy Zimmerman |January 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
At Big Valley, a co-ed pre-K-12 in hardscrabble Modesto, Calif., the trip to Washington D.C. has been an annual rite of passage.

The Sequester Ruined Our Eighth-Grade Trip to Washington, D.C. |David Freedlander |March 19, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

In his hardscrabble campaign, there might not even have been a podium ready to welcome him.

What Newt Gingrich Can Do for Mitt Romney |Matt Latimer |August 9, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The village of Podunk looks down on the neighboring town of Hardscrabble.

The Galaxy |Various
Mr. and Mrs. Ronayne and the Doctor rode out soon after dinner, sir, in the direction of Hardscrabble.

Wau-nan-gee or the Massacre at Chicago |Major John Richardson
“We need not be afraid of Hardscrabble winds any more, papa,” said David.

The Inglises |Margaret Murray Robertson
Mr. Hardscrabble, however, suggests that such stories are extremely common.

An Outcast |F. Colburn Adams
I've only one thing to ask about that: please don't have the name put as either 'Hardscrabble' or 'Spite House.'

Reels and Spindles |Evelyn Raymond

hardscrabble

/ (ˈhɑːdˌskræbəl) /

(modifier) (of a place) difficult to make a living in; barren

great effort made in the face of difficulties