RAMROD

I. noun Date: 1757 a rod for ramming home the charge in a muzzle-loading firearm, a cleaning rod for small arms, boss , overseer , II. adjective Date: 1850 marked by rigidity, severity, or stiffness, III. transitive verb Date: circa 1940 to direct, supervise, and control, IV. adverb Date: 1954 in a fully upright position ; rigidly