hale

This adjective is almost exclusively used to describe elderly people who maintain a surprising level of vigor. It carries a connotation of robustness and resilience, often appearing in the fixed binomial phrase hale and hearty to emphasize a complete lack of frailty. As a verb, the term is rare in modern conversation and is primarily found in nautical or archaic contexts. It evokes the physical strain of hauling heavy objects, such as nets or anchors, using manual force.