roughneck

[ ruhf-nek ]

noun

1. a rough, coarse person; a tough.
2. any laborer working on an oil-drilling rig. Compare roustabout ( def 4 ).

verb (used without object)

1. to work as a roughneck.

roughneck

/ ˈrʌfˌnɛk /

noun

1. a rough or violent person; thug
2. a worker in an oil-drilling operation

Word History and Origins

Origin of roughneck¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; rough + neck

Example Sentences

The lead actor Patrick Swayze, playing a philosophizing roughneck, smirked with unshakable confidence while breaking arms and jaws, as cars and buildings blew up real good around him.

From New York Times

Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.

From Seattle Times

He had previously worked as a rodeo hand, a roughneck in the Oklahoma oil fields and as a semiprofessional football player to support his young family.

From New York Times

And along those highways came the farmers and Okies and oil rig roughnecks who would forever shape the culture and landscape of the San Joaquin Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

If it is, environmentalists may find themselves in the odd position of cheering the roughnecks on with cries of “drill, baby, drill!”

From Science Magazine