Hard-grained

hard-grained wood

A few sentences will suffice to indicate an idea of it. The pervading characteristic of all our Scottish songs seems to be that hard-grained, and not unfrequently sarcastic sagacity, which is the national mark, go where you will.

Though a hard-grained man, close, dry, and silent, he can enjoy old wine with the best. He has a priceless bin of port in some artful cellar under the Fields, which is one of his many secrets.