1. Tough and callous by virtue of experience
   "The hard-boiled politician seeks relief from his everyday battles";
   - hard-bitten, pugnacious
    
2. Used of persons; emotionally hardened
   "faced a hard-boiled judge";
   - case-hardened, hardened
    
3. (eggs) cooked until the yolk is solid
   "She prepared hard-boiled eggs for the picnic"

See also: cooked, hard, tough

Encyclopedia: Hard-boiled