• RUB
n. a loan …1914 naval sl.
vb. to depart hurriedly …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUB-A-DUB
n. a pub …1926 Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
• RUB-A-DUB-DUB
n. a pub …1926 Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
• RUB A MAN DOWN WITH AN OAKEN TOWEL
vb. to beat him …1785 sl.
• RUBARBATIVE
adj. crabbed, cross-grained, bad-tempered, ill-natured …1600 obs.
• RUBBACROCK
n. a dirty, filthy slattern, that is as black as if she were continually rubbing herself against a boiler or kettle …1746 Eng. dial.
• RUBBAGE
n. rubbish …Bk1905 Amer. dial.
• RUBBED OUT
adj. dead …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUBBEDY(-DUB)
n. a pub …1898 Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
• RUBBER
n. 1. a condom …1947 sl.
n. 2. tires …Bk1998 sl.
• RUBBER DRINK
n. a large glass or drink of liquor …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUBBERDY
n. a pub …1898 Aust. sl.
• RUBBER EARS
n. deaf ears …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUBBER ICE
n. thin bending ice …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUBBER JOHNNY
n. a condom …1980 sl.
• RUBBER KNACKERS
n. an unpleasant or detested man …20C Brit. sl.
• RUBBERNECK
vb. to stare inquisitively …1896 sl., orig. US
• RUBBER RING
n. a contraceptive diaphragm …20C US
• RUBBER SOCK
n. a timid person; a jerk …E20 US sl.
• RUBBETTY
n. a pub …1898 Aust. sl.
• RUBBISH
n. something of inferior quality …1601
n. nonsense …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
vb. to speak or write critically or disparagingly of; to criticize …1953 sl., orig. & chiefly Aust. & NZ
• RUBBISHY
adj. of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory …1824
• RUBBITTY-DUB; RUBBITY-DUB
n. a pub …1898 Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
• RUBBITY
n. a pub …1898 Aust. sl.
• RUB DOWN WITH AN OAKEN TOWEL
vb. to thrash, to beat …18C sl.
• RUBE
n. a rustic …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUBEDINOUS
adj. reddish …1864 rare
• RUBIATOR
n. a plunderer; a violent, ruthless person; a lout, a boor, a bully …c1745 Sc.
• RUBICUND
adj. 1. of things: inclined to redness; red …1503 obs.
adj. 2. of the face: reddish, flushed, especially as the result of good living; having a highly coloured complexion; red-faced …1696
• RUBIOUS
adj. ruby-coloured, red …1602
• RUB-OFF
n. 1. copulation …17C Brit. sl.
n. 2. masturbation …19C Brit. sl.
(verbs usually as ‘rub off’)
vb. 1. to coit a woman …L16 sl.
vb. 2. to stimulate sexually …17C sl.
vb. 3. to masturbate …17C Brit. colloq.
• RUB ONE DOWN WITH AN OAKEN TOWEL
vb. to cudgel or beat him …18C sl.
• RUB ONE’S NOSE IN IT
vb. to reprimand someone by reminding them humiliatingly of their error …1963 sl.
• RUB ON THE GALL
vb. to touch a person on a sore or tender point …1523 obs.
• RUB-OUT
n. an assassination in gang warfare …1927 sl., orig. US
(verbs as ‘rub out’)
vb. 1. to kill deliberately …1848 sl., orig. US
vb. 2. to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUB SALT INTO SOMEONE’S WOUNDS
vb. 1893 – to make someone’s pain, shame, etc. even worse
• RUB-UP
n. masturbation …17C Brit. colloq.
(verbs usually as ‘rub up’)
vb. 1. to coit a woman …L16 sl.
vb. 2. to stimulate sexually …17C sl.
vb. 3. to masturbate …1656 sl.
• RUB UP THE WRONG WAY
vb. to annoy or infuriate …1862 sl.
• RUBY
n. red wine …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUBY-DAZZLER
n. an excellent person or thing …1941 Aust. & NZ sl.
• RUBY QUEEN
n. an attractive young female nurse …1925 services’ sl.
• RUCK
n. an argument; a row …1958 sl.
vb. to reprimand …1936 sl.
• RUCKLING
n. the youngest or smallest of a brood or litter; the youngest or weakest of a family, a weakling …1781 Eng. dial.
• RUCKUS
n. fighting; a fight, a brawl …1890 sl., chiefly US
• RUCT
vb. to belch, to bring up wind …1620 obs. rare
• RUCTIONS
n. an angry scene …1890 sl.
• RUDAS
adj. 1. of women: rude, unmannerly, rough, coarse; haggard, old …a1802 Sc.
adj. 2. bold, masculine …B1900 Sc.
n. 1. a coarse, unmannerly, foul-mouthed old woman; an ill-natured, ugly old woman; a virago …1725 Sc.
n. 2. a strong, masculine woman …B1900 Sc.
• RUDDER
n. 1. the penis …E17 Brit. sl.
n. 2. a good horse …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
vb. to copulate …E17 Brit. sl.
• RUDDLIN
n. a riddle, a puzzle, a conundrum …1873 Eng. dial.
• RUDDY SAUSAGE
n. the penis …Urquhart usage
• RUDE
adj. ugly …1960s Amer. sl.
• RUDERARY
adj. pertaining to rubbish; consisting of rubbish …1727
• RUE BACK
vb. to back down from a bargain …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUELLE
n. 1. the space between a bed and the wall; the part of a bed next to the wall …1303
n. 2. a bedroom where ladies of fashion in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially in France, held a morning reception of persons of distinction; hence a reception of this kind …1676
n. 3. in France, a small street; a lane, an alley …B1900
n. 4. a wrinkle …B1900 Eng. dial.
• RUE ONE’S RACE
vb. to repent of the course one has taken …c1440 obs.
• RUFFATORY
adj. boisterous, rude …B1900 Eng. dial.
n. a rude, boisterous boy; one who is fond of horseplay, knocking and shoving his playfellows about at all risks …1830 Eng. dial.
• RUFFIAN
n. 1. the devil …15C
n. 2. the penis …19C Brit. sl.
vb. to pimp …19C Brit. sl.
• RUFFIANOUS
adj. like a ruffian; bold in crimes; violent, brutal …1555 obs.
• RUFFINER
n. 1. a rough person, a ruffian; a sturdy, wayward character, savage when excited …B1900 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an exaggerated term of endearment to children …B1900 Eng. dial.
• RUFFLE
n. the passive partner in a lesbian sexual relationship …M20 US homosexual sl.
• RUFFY-TUFFY
adj. dishevelled; disordered, rough …a1821 nonce word
adv. in disorder, helter-skelter …B1900 nonce word
• RUFTY-TUFTY
adj. rude, rough; boisterous; impudent …1606 obs.
int. an expression of disapproval …1606 obs.
• RUFUS
n. the female genitals …19C Brit. sl.
• RUG
n. 1. the female pubic hair …20C US sl.
n. 2. a wig of any type …1940 US sl.
• RUGGED
adj. vigorous; robust …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUGGY-DUGGY
n. 1866 Sc. – a rough, uncouth, or unkempt person
• RUG-MUNCHER
n. 1. 1980s sl., orig. US college – a person who performs cunnilingus
n. 2. 1980s sl., orig. US college – a lesbian
• RUG-RAT
n. 1968 US sl. – a child
• RUIN SOMEONE’S WHOLE DAY
vb. 1961 US jocular usage – to kill someone
• RUKUS
n. 1890 sl., chiefly US – fighting; a fight, a brawl
• RULE
vb. to be the leader of a group …1960s Amer. sl.
• RULE THE ROAST
vb. to lead, to domineer …c1380 sl.
• RULIE
adj. turbulent; talkative …Bk1904 Sc.
• RUM
adj. excellent; first-rate …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 1. generic name for all kinds of liquor …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a weak-minded person …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUMATICKS
n. rheumatism …1826 Sc.
• RUMATIZE
vb. to bring tears to the eyes; to shed tears …1613 obs.
• RUM-BIT
n. good money …Bk1890 sl.
• RUMBLE
n. 1. an instance of informing on someone …1911 sl.
n. 2. a fight, esp. a gang fight …1946 sl., chiefly US
vb. 1. to recognize something intentionally concealed …1886 sl.
vb. 2. to annoy; to anger …World War I Amer. sl.
vb. 3. to fight, esp. to take part in a gang-fight …1959 sl., chiefly US
• RUMBLEGUMPTION
n. common sense; mental smartness …1787 Sc.
• RUMBLE STRIPS
n. roughened areas in a road designed to make high-pitched rumbling noise to warn drivers to slow down …Bk1998 sl.
• RUMBLE-TUMBLE
n. scrambled eggs …2003 UK sl., orig. military usage
• RUM, BUM, AND BACCA
phr. 1910 – the reputed pleasures of a sailor’s life
• RUMBUNCTIOUS
adj. 1830 sl., orig. & chiefly US – energetic, vigorous, lively, boisterous
• RUMBUSTICAL
adj. 1. 1795 Eng. dial. & colloq. – fond of rough play; careless of the comfort of others; boisterous, unruly, uproarious, noisy, obstreperous; rude, overbearing, violent
adj. 2. 1877 Eng. dial. – huddled together
adj. 3. B1900 Eng. dial. – eccentric
• RUMBUSTIOUS
adj. 1778 colloq. – careless of the comfort of others; noisy, boisterous, turbulent, unruly, rough, uproarious
• RUM-GEM
n. Bk1896 – a diamond ring (cant)
• RUM GO
n. Bk1942 – bad luck (Amer. sl.)
• RUMGUMPTIOUS
adj. 1. 1781 – forward, rash, bold, quarrelsome, strong-willed, headstrong (Eng. dial.)
adj. 2. 1790 – boisterous (Eng. dial.)
adj. 3. 1828 – queer, odd, eccentric (Eng. dial.)
adj. 4. 1860 – knowing, shrewd, sharp, witty (Eng. dial.)
• RUMHEAD
n. 1965 – a heavy drinker (Amer. dial.)
• RUM-HOUND
n. a heavy drinker …1918 sl.
• RUMIFORATE
vb. to rumour; to spread about by report …B1900
• RUMIGERATION
n. a spreading a rumour or report abroad; a carrying tales …B1900
• RUM-JAR
n. a German trench-mortar bomb …1916 sl.
• RUM LAP
n. strong drink of any sort …1725 sl.
• RUMMAGE
n. disorder …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
vb. to possess carnally …Bk1903 sl.
• RUMMY
n. 1. a drinker of alcohol; a drunkard …1851 sl., chiefly US
n. 2. a foolish person; a weak-minded person …1912 US sl.
n. 3. a gullible person; a dupe …1912 US sl.
• RUMOROUS
adj. of the nature of rumour …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUMP
vb. to possess carnally …Bk1903 sl.
• RUM PAD
n. 1. a daring highwayman …L17 cant
n. 2. the highway …L17 cant
vb. (as ‘rum-pad’) to attack or rob on the highway …L19 cant
• RUM PADDER
n. one of the better sort of highwaymen, well mounted and armed …M17 cant
• RUMPANT
adj. breaking the law, offending …1621 obs.
• RUM PECK
n. good food …L17 cant
• RUM PEEPER
n. a silver looking-glass …L17 cant
• RUM PHIZ; RUM PHYZ
n. an odd face or countenance …c1780 sl.
• RUMPLE-TUMPLE
vb. to roll; to roll in play down a declivity .,..1885 Sc.
• RUMPLETY
adj. crumpled, rumpled …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUMPO
n. (surreptitious) sexual intercourse …1986 Brit. sl.
• RUM-POT
n. a heavy drinker …1930 Amer. sl.
• RUM PRANCER
n. a very fine horse …L17 cant
• RUMP-STEAK AND A DOZEN
n. 1893 – dinner and has much as you liked to drink
• RUMPTY
adj. 1941 Aust. & NZ sl. – excellent
n. 1941 Aust. & NZ sl. – an excellent person or thing
• RUMPTY-TUMPTY
n. 1986 Brit. sl. – (surreptitious) sexual intercourse
• RUMPULLION
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – a boisterous person
• RUMPY-PUMPY
n. 1986 Brit. sl. – (surreptitious) sexual intercourse
• RUM QUIDDS; RUM QUIDS
n. L17 cant – a large booty; a great share of spoil
• RUM RAT
n. 1940s sl. – one very fond of his drink
• RUM RIGGING
n. c1696 sl. – fine clothes
• RUMSCULLION
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – a bad, idle, worthless fellow
• RUM-SUCK
n. Bk1904 cant – excellent tipple
• RUM-TOGGED
adj. 1811 sl. – dressed handsomely
• RUMVILLE
n. M16 cant – London
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Updated: February 27, 2023
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