rubber

rubber
rubber "thing that rubs," 1530s, agent noun from RUB (Cf. rub) (v.). The meaning "elastic substance from tropical plants" (short for India rubber) first recorded 1788, introduced to Europe 1744 by Charles Marie de la Condamine, so called because it was originally used as an eraser.
Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater. [entry for Caoutchouc in Howard, "New Royal Encyclopedia," 1788]
Meaning "overshoes made of rubber" is 1842, Amer.Eng.; slang sense of "condom" is from 1930s. Sense of "deciding match" in a game or contest is 1590s, of unknown signification, and perhaps an entirely separate word. Rubber stamp is from 1881; figurative sense of "institution whose power is formal but not real" is from 1919; the verb in this sense is from 1934. Rubber cement is attested from 1856 (from 1823 as India-rubber cement). Rubber check (one that "bounces") is from 1927.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Rubber — Rub ber, n. 1. One who, or that which, rubs. Specifically: (a) An instrument or thing used in rubbing, polishing, or cleaning. (b) A coarse file, or the rough part of a file. (c) A whetstone; a rubstone. (d) An eraser, usually made of caoutchouc… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rubber — steht für : Rubber (Film), französischer Film von Quentin Dupieux aus dem Jahr 2010 Rubber (Kartenspiel), Kartenspielbegriff Rubber (Album), drittes Soloalbum des Gitarristen Gilby Clarke Das CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics wird auch… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • rubber — rubber1 [rub′ər] n. 1. a person or thing that rubs, as in polishing, scraping, massaging, etc. 2. [from orig. use as an eraser] an elastic substance produced by coagulating and drying the milky sap ( latex) of various tropical plants, esp. a tree …   English World dictionary

  • rubber — Ⅰ. rubber [1] ► NOUN 1) a tough elastic substance made from the latex of a tropical plant or synthetically. 2) Brit. a piece of such material used for erasing pencil marks. 3) N. Amer. informal a condom. 4) (rubbers) N. Amer. rubber boots;… …   English terms dictionary

  • Rubber — Données clés Réalisation Quentin Dupieux Scénario Quentin Dupieux Acteurs principaux Stephen Spinella Roxane Mesquida Jack Plotnick Sociétés de production Rubber Films Orange Sky Realitism …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Rubber — Rubber, ältere Reinigungs oder Schälmaschine, bei der ein nach oben verjüngter Vollkegel in einem Hohlkegel kreist, von dem er etwa 25 mm Abstand hat. Beide Kegelflächen sind mit Raspelblech bekleidet, und das Getreide wird, durch Schwer und… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Rubber — (engl., spr. röbbĕr), s. Robber …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • rubber — rubber1 rubberless, adj. rubberlike, adj. /rub euhr/, n. 1. Also called India rubber, natural rubber, gum elastic, caoutchouc. a highly elastic solid substance, light cream or dark amber in color, polymerized by the drying and coagulation of the… …   Universalium

  • rubber — [1] All the rubber seals, mats, and pads that cushion and protect vehicle windows, trim, handles, bumper sections, carpets, etc. [2] The tires. See also peel rubber. [3] An elastic substance used in tires. See blade rubber bonnet bump rubber bump …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • rubber — Synonyms and related words: Buna, Butyl rubber, IUD, India rubber, Lastex, Paul Pry, ace, bag, baleen, battledore, best bower, birth control device, blubber, bower, breeze, butt in, butter, caoutchouc, cards, caucho, chewing gum, clay, clubs,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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