Etymograph

English

rub

Rub comes from Middle English rubben ‘to abrade’.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rubben‘to abrade’
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602rub

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rubben‘to abrade’
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602rub

Earliest quotation: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “To die, to sleep— / To sleep—perchance to dream.…”

The story

Inherited from Middle English rubben, of unknown origin; possibly ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rubbōną, related to *reufaną (‘to tear’).uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain.

Every English word from Middle English rubben

Today it means

noun An act of rubbing.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle English rubben / rub

Shirt and support for this word