How did the USS Constitution earn the nickname Old Ironsides?

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The USS Constitution, a renowned U.S. Navy frigate, earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812.1

On August 19, 1812, while engaged in a battle against the British frigate Guerriere, American sailors observed that enemy cannonballs were failing to penetrate the ship's thick oak hull. Impressed by the vessel's durability, the crew dubbed it "Old Ironsides," a name that became a permanent part of American naval tradition.1