A metal rod used to push ammunition into the barrel of old rifles, or a person who enforces rules very strictly.
Compound of 'ram' (to push forcefully) + 'rod' (a thin stick or bar). The literal tool dates back to musket warfare in the 1600s-1800s. The figurative meaning (a strict enforcer) comes from the ramrod's association with military discipline.
Before bullets were self-contained cartridges, soldiers had to manually push powder, cloth, and a ball down their rifle barrel with a ramrod — this was slow, tedious work! That's why a 'ramrod' person is someone rigid, mechanical, and unyielding.
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