subs. (gaming).—1. A round of three games: also RUB (B. E., GROSE).
1635. QUARLES, Emblems, i. 10.
| It is the trade of man, and ev’ry sinner | |
| Has play’d his RUBBERS: every soul’s a winner. |
1680. AUBREY, Eminent Men [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 121. Among new words are … RUBBER (of a game …)].
1753. The Adventurer, No. 35. Mrs. Overall, the housekeeper, having lost three RUBBERS at whist running.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xi. I’ve seen him play whist, with my father for a partner; and a good RUBBER, too.
1869. THACKERAY, What Makes my Heart to Thrill and Glow? 7. Why was it that I laughed and grinned at whist, although I lost the RUB?
2. (old).—A slight reproof; ‘reflections upon any one … a rencounter with drawn swords.’—B. E. (c. 1696). Also RUB.
3. (American).—In pl. = India-rubber over-shoes; goloshes.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. When I was a young man I had to slosh around dark, wet nights in RUBBERS that didn’t fit.
4. (old).—See quot.
1606. T. DEKKER, The Seven Deadly Sinnes of London, 32 (ARBER’S ed.). A number of poore handy-crafts-men, that before wrought night and day, made stocks to themselves of ten groates, and crowns a peece, and what by Betting, Lurches, RUBBERS, and such tricks, they neuer tooke care for a good daies worke afterwards.
