hard-drawn

And then sounded the clangor of strife and the hard-drawn panting of combat.

People of the Dark Howard, Robert E. 2005

That fearful battle was fought in silence save for the hissing of hard-drawn breath.

People of the Dark Howard, Robert E. 2005

Through a blur of stinging sweat, Strongfist could see the bodies of his companions strewn along the riverside like flotsam; and each hard-drawn breath sucked the stench of the slaughterhouse into his lungs.

The Falcons of Montabard Chadwick, Elizabeth 2004

The hard-drawn breath signalled stiffness and pain, but nothing mortal.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

It seemed somehow to Dinney as though a sweet peace filled the room now that his mother's hard-drawn breath was no longer there.

Gloria and Treeless Street Annie Hamilton Donnell

For a moment he held her so, staring down, at her, his breath hard-drawn between his teeth; then swiftly, with a stifled exclamation he stooped his head, kissing her savagely, bruising, crushing her lips beneath his own.

The Splendid Folly Margaret Pedler

It seemed somehow to Dinney as though a sweet peace filled the room now that his mother's hard-drawn breath was no longer there.

Gloria and Treeless Street Annie Hamilton Donnell

Once, twice she heard the sound of a man's hard-drawn sob, and the dry agony of it wrung her heart.

The Lamp of Fate Margaret Pedler

Long they fought, and fiercely, till the breath came hard-drawn and short, and the red blood ran fast from both combatants.

Stories of the Border Marches Jeanie Lang

In the suspension bridge iron or steel can be used in its strongest form, namely hard-drawn wire.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" Various