\Rub\, n.
{Rub of the green} (Golf), anything happening to a ball in
   motion, such as its being deflected or stopped by any
   agency outside the match, or by the fore caddie. Rubaiyat

\Rub\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rubbed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Rubbing}.] [Probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. rhwbiaw, gael.
rub.]
1. To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over
   its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the
   action of something moving back and forth; as, to rub the
   flesh with the hand; to rub wood with sandpaper.
         It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned,
         to rub the body with a coarse linen cloth. --Sir T.
                                               Elyot.
2. To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and
   friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the
   ground.
3. To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along
   a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body.
         Two bones rubbed hard against one another.
                                               --Arbuthnot.
4. To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
         The smoothed plank, . . . New rubbed with balm.
                                               --Milton.
5. To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse;
   -- often with up or over; as, to rub up silver.
         The whole business of our redemption is to rub over
         the defaced copy of the creation.     --South.
6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart. [R.]
         'T is the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all
         the world well knows, Will not be rubbed nor
         stopped.                              --Shak.
{To rub down}.
   (a) To clean by rubbing; to comb or curry; as, to down a
       horse.
   (b) To reduce or remove by rubbing; as, to rub down the
       rough points.
{To rub off}, to clean anything by rubbing; to separate by
   friction; as, to rub off rust.
{To rub out}, to remove or separate by friction; to erase; to
   obliterate; as, to rub out a mark or letter; to rub out a
   stain.
{To rub up}.
   (a) To burnish; to polish; to clean.
   (b) To excite; to awaken; to rouse to action; as, to rub
       up the memory.

\Rub\, v. i.
1. To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to
   grate; as, a wheel rubs against the gatepost.
2. To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore.
3. To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods,
   as huntsmen; to rub through the world.
{To rub along} or {on}, to go on with difficulty; as, they
   manage, with strict economy, to rub along. [Colloq.]

\Rub\, n. [Cf. W. rhwb. See Rub, v,t,]
1. The act of rubbing; friction.
2. That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct
   motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment;
   especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome;
   a pinch.
         Every rub is smoothed on our way.     --Shak.
         To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub.
                                               --Shak.
         Upon this rub, the English ambassadors thought fit
         to demur.                             --Hayward.
         One knows not, certainly, what other rubs might have
         been ordained for us by a wise Providence. --W.
                                               Besant.
3. Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of
   bowls; unevenness. --Shak.
4. Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a
   hard rub.
5. Imperfection; failing; fault. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
6. A chance. [Obs.]
         Flight shall leave no Greek a rub.    --Chapman.
7. A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a
   whetstone; -- called also {rubstone}.
{Rub iron}, an iron guard on a wagon body, against which a
   wheel rubs when cramped too much.