From rub + -er.
The sense of the substance comes from its ability to function as an eraser, displacing earlier caoutchouc. The senses not pertaining to rubbing or erasing are secondarily derived from the name of the substance.
Meanings
(of a draft/check, slang) Not covered by funds on account.
fr chèque en bois (not covered by funds) · bg непокрит (not covered by funds) · fi katteeton (not covered by funds) · es cheque sin fondos (not covered by funds)
From rub + -er.
The sense of the substance comes from its ability to function as an eraser, displacing earlier caoutchouc. The senses not pertaining to rubbing or erasing are secondarily derived from the name of the substance.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable, usually) Pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree; a hydrocarbon biopolymer of isoprene.
(countable, uncountable, usually) Natural rubber or any of various synthetic materials with similar properties as natural rubber.
(Australia, Brunei, India, New-Zealand, UK, countable, usually) An eraser.
Drawing materials, he thought, I used to love drawing as a lad. I can afford some plain paper and pencils, surely? And a rubber, too. He smiled at the memory of an elderly uncle, also fond of drawing, who′d always called rubbers ‘lead eaters’. 2010, Anna Jacobs, Beyond the Sunset, unnumbered page:
Stan stole a diary and some pens, pencils, ink and rubbers during his early days as a POW working on the Singapore docks. 2011, Patrick Lindsay, The Spirit of the Digger, Revised edition, unnumbered page:
For example, they may use paddle pop sticks, hand span, pencils, rubbers, mathematics equipment (i.e. base 10 material) or anything else the teacher can find to measure the lengths of nominated objects. 2006, Lisa Kervin, Research for Educators, page 148:
(Canada, US, countable, slang, usually) A condom, especially an external condom.
My daddy said "Treat young girls like your mother" / My momma said "Trust no hoe, use a rubber" 2019, “Ricky”, performed by Denzel Curry:
And the rubbers you hide / In your top left pocket 1979, “At Home He's A Tourist”, in Entertainment!, performed by Gang of Four:
Don't have sex, because you will get pregnant and die! Don't have sex in the missionary position, don't have sex standing up, just don't do it, OK, promise? OK, now everybody take some rubbers. 2004, Tina Fey, Mean Girls (motion picture), spoken by Coach Carr (Dwayne Hill):
(countable, usually) Someone or something which rubs.
What perplexity plagues the chin-rubber in the foreground and what so discourages the man leaning on the lamp post? And to what doom is the large man at right moving? Photographer Cowherd has no answers. 1949 July 11, LIFE, page 21:
(countable, uncountable, usually) Someone or something which rubs. ▸ One who rubs down horses.
(countable, uncountable, usually) Someone or something which rubs. ▸ One who practises massage.
I curl his perriwig, paint his cheeks, perfume his breath; I am his froterer or rubber in a hot-house 1601 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], What You Will, London: […] G[eorge] Eld, for Thomas Thorppe, published 1607, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
(countable, uncountable, usually) Someone or something which rubs. ▸ A coarse towel for rubbing the body.
(countable, uncountable, usually) Someone or something which rubs. ▸ An abrasive for rubbing with: a whetstone, file, or emery cloth, etc.
(historical, uncountable, usually) The cushion of an electric machine.
(countable, usually) The rectangular pad on the pitcher's mound from which the pitcher must pitch.
Jones toes the rubber and then fires to the plate.
He set aside his aunt’s counsel in regard to a better regimen, as well as her more specific hints, made in view of the near approach of rough weather, that he provide himself with rubbers and an umbrella, even if he would not hear of a rain-coat. 1919, Henry B[lake] Fuller, “Cope Goes A-Sailing”, in Bertram Cope’s Year: A Novel, Chicago, Ill.: Ralph Fletcher Seymour, The Alderbrink Press, →OCLC, page 154:
Johnny, don't forget your rubbers today.
(slang, uncountable, usually) Tires, particularly racing tires.
Jones enters the pits to get new rubber.
(dated, slang, uncountable, usually) A hardship or misfortune.
'Twas a bit gone December, / As I well remember, / I met with a rubber, and got some advice; […] 1843, John Castillo, Awd Isaac: The Steeple Chase, and Other Poems, page 101:
The British barges, off New-London, sometimes meet with the rubbers. In an attack upon an armed smack, some days ago, they were beaten off, with the reported loss of 8 men killed. 1814, The Weekly Register, volume 5, page 302:
sk guma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · za gau (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ko 고무 (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · twf úliną (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · hi रबड़ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · pt camisinha (condom) · el λάστιχα (tires) · az rezin (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · de Gummi (tires) · ru гондо́н (condom) · ky каучук (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ml റബ്ബർ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fi kumi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · tk rezin (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nn gummi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · pl guma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru рези́нка (condom) · bg гу́ма (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · io kauchuko (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nl rubber (condom) · ca condó (condom) · ne रबर (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fi kumi (synthetic materials with the same properties) · nb kalosj (water resistant shoe covers) · nan-hbl 橡奶 (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ja ゴム (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · tr şapka (condom) · mk гума (synthetic materials with the same properties) · tl goma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ady хьашъо (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nb gummi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · cs guma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · arz كاوتش (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ps ربړ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sm pulu (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ty uaua (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · eo kaŭĉuko (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · chr ᎠᏜ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · pl guma (synthetic materials with the same properties) · is gúmmí (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fa-ira لاسْتیک (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · kk каучук (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fi kalossi (water resistant shoe covers) · my ရော်ဘာ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ug كاۋچۇك (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nl condoom (condom) · fi raakakumi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru кало́ши (water resistant shoe covers) · tt каучук (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · tr prezervatif (condom) · bg презервати́в (condom) · el γαλότσες (water resistant shoe covers) · de Kautschuk (synthetic materials with the same properties) · ru рези́на (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sh gȕma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru рези́на (tires) · tr kondom (condom) · ar مَطَّاط (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ja 合成ゴム (synthetic materials with the same properties) · la gumma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · th ยาง (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ms getah (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru каучу́к (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · be гу́ма (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · et kondoom (condom) · fr capote (condom) · km កៅស៊ូ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nb bilgummi (tires) · uz rezina (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ro cauciuc (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sv gummi (condom) · it preservativo (condom) · my ရာဘာ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fi kumi (tires) · gl goma (synthetic materials with the same properties) · mn резин (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · lo ຢາງ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · pl gumka (condom) · nb kondom (condom) · hu koton (condom) · ru ши́ны (tires) · id karet (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · be каўчу́к (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ca placa del llançador (baseball: pad on the pitcher's mound) · hy ռետին (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · haw laholio (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · tg резина (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · cmn 橡膠 /橡胶 (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · el λάστιχο (synthetic materials with the same properties) · lv gumija (synthetic materials with the same properties) · hu gumi (synthetic materials with the same properties) · bn রবার (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru гало́ши (water resistant shoe covers) · fr gomme (synthetic materials with the same properties) · tk kauçuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ka რეზინი (synthetic materials with the same properties) · ur رَبَڑ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sq gomë (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · el ελαστικό κόμμι (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · it gomma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sv gummi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · bg гало́ши (water resistant shoe covers) · gl goma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · da gummi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fi kautsu (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · mr चोळणारी (someone or something which rubs) · tr kauçuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ml റബ്ബർ (synthetic materials with the same properties) · fi luonnonkumi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · et kummi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru рези́на (synthetic materials with the same properties) · es goma (condom) · sq kauçuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · kmr kaûçik (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · cy rwber (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · el προφυλακτικό (condom) · nl overschoenen (water resistant shoe covers) · ro cauciuc (synthetic materials with the same properties) · fr préservatif (condom) · ja ゴム (condom) · cs kaučuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ka რეზინი (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nb gummi (condom) · mk галоши (water resistant shoe covers) · nci ōlli (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · de Kautschuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fy rubber (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · es goma (tires) · he גוּמִי (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fa-ira کائوچو (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · kea buraxa (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · bg гу́ма (synthetic materials with the same properties) · cmn 安全套 (condom) · ca goma (synthetic materials with the same properties) · cmn 套兒 /套儿 (condom) · mi tawau (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ja ゴム (tires) · unm shishipèk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · de Präservativ (condom) · mn каучук (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · vi cao su (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nl rubber (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ky резина (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fi kumi (condom) · fi kumit (tires) · fr condom (condom) · sl guma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · es goma (synthetic materials with the same properties) · ne रबड (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · de Gummi (synthetic materials with the same properties) · de Kondom (condom) · hu gumi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · cmn 避孕套 (condom) · uk каучу́к (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · az kauçuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · cs pryž (synthetic materials with the same properties) · ca cautxú (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · tg каучук (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · hu gumi (tires) · fi syöttölaatta (baseball: pad on the pitcher's mound) · ja ゴム (synthetic materials with the same properties) · et kummi (synthetic materials with the same properties) · nb dekk (tires) · cs pryž (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sip གྱིག (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ga coiscín (condom) · es goma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · de Gummi (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · yi גומע (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · pt preservativo (condom) · mt gomma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fr gomme (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · pl kauczuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · hu óvszer (condom) · pt borracha (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · mk гу́ма (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · lt guma (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · sh гу̏ма (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · es caucho (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ga rubar (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ro cauciuc (tires) · de Gummi (condom) · eo gumo (synthetic materials with the same properties) · sk kaučuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · hi रबर (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · chl 'uuli' (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · cmn 橡皮 (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ny mpira (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · hu gumiabroncs (tires) · fi hankaaja (someone or something which rubs) · fr gommes (tires) · cs guma (synthetic materials with the same properties) · es hule (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · lv gumija (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ru презервати́в (condom) · afb ربل (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · uk гу́ма (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · et kumm class slang (condom) · bo འགྱིག (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · mr चोळणारा (someone or something which rubs) · pt borracha (synthetic materials with the same properties) · el καουτσούκ (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fr caoutchouc (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · ccc kawcho (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · bg ка́учук (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · uz kauchuk (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · nb kunstgummi (synthetic materials with the same properties) · mn эрзээн (pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree) · fr caoutchouc (synthetic materials with the same properties) · hu gumi (condom)
In relation to a series of games or matches between two competitors where the overall winner of the series is the competitor which wins a majority of the individual games or matches: ▸ The entire series, of an odd number of games or matches in which ties are impossible (especially a series of three games in bridge or whist).
They played, and Creed and his young partner won the first rubber, winning the two first games running. 1828, Robert Huish, The Red Barn: A Tale, Founded on Fact, page 83:
[…] an old lady's innocent rubber. 1907 May 25, in The Publishers' Weekly, number 1843, page 1608 http://books.google.com/books?id=ZCADAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22her%20grand-aunt%22&pg=PA1608#v=onepage&q=%22her%20grand-aunt%22&f=false
In relation to a series of games or matches between two competitors where the overall winner of the series is the competitor which wins a majority of the individual games or matches: ▸ An individual match within the series (especially in racquet sports).
Ladies matches shall consist of 6 rubbers. Each rubber shall consist of best of 3 games to 21 points. 2013 Cradley Heath Badminton League Rules as at 2013/2014
Montreal’s Francoise Abanda lost the first rubber of the tie 6-2, 6-4 to Karolina Pliskova on Saturday 2015 February 7, “Canada trails Czech Republic 2-0 in Fed Cup tie after singles losses”, in The Globe and Mail, Toronto:
(Canada, US) A rubber match; a game or match played to break a tie.
The game of rubber bridge.
"Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I have not had my rubber." "I think you will find that you will play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and that the play will be more exciting." 1891, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Red-Headed League:
"There's a lot of nostalgia about the phone and how it was the way to get the local news," said Jane Beck of the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury. One way was "rubbering," or listening in on a neighbor's conversations ... 1999, Los Angeles Times, "Party's Over for Rural Phone Customers in Green Mountain State," (Jan. 31, 1999)
(slang) To rubberneck; to observe with unseemly curiosity.
Old Sally didn't talk much, except to rave about the Lunts, because she was busy rubbering and being charming. 1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, chapter 17, in The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC: