Thomas. 1840–1928, British novelist and poet. Most of his novels are set in his native Dorset (part of his fictional Wessex) and include Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895), after which his work consisted chiefly of verse
Sir Thomas Masterman. 1769–1839, British naval officer, flag captain under Nelson (1799–1805): 1st Sea Lord (1830)
early 13c., "bold, daring, fearless," from O.Fr. hardi, from pp. of hardir "to harden, be or make bold," from Frankish *hardjan (cf. Goth. gahardjan "make hard"), from W.Gmc. *kharthjan "to make hard." Sense influenced by English hard.