from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rubber \Rub"ber\, n.
1. One who, or that which, rubs. Specifically:
(a) An instrument or thing used in rubbing, polishing, or
cleaning.
(b) A coarse file, or the rough part of a file.
(c) A whetstone; a rubstone.
(d) An eraser, usually made of caoutchouc or a synthetic
rubber[4].
(e) The cushion of an electrical machine.
(f) One who performs massage, especially in a Turkish
bath.
(g) Something that chafes or annoys; hence, something that
grates on the feelings; a sarcasm; a rub. --Thackeray.
[1913 Webster]
2. In some games, as bridge or whist, the odd game, as the
third or the fifth, which decides the winner when there is
a tie between the players; as, to play the rubber; also, a
contest determined by the winning of two out of three
games; as, to play a rubber of whist. --Beaconsfield. "A
rubber of cribbage." --Dickens.
[1913 Webster]
3. India rubber; caoutchouc; gum elastic; -- also called
{natural rubber}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
4. Any substance, whether natural or synthetic, resembling
India rubber with respect to its elasticity[1].
[PJC]
5. A low-cut overshoe made of natural or synthetic rubber[4],
serving to keep the feet and shoes dry when walking in the
rain or on a wet surface; -- usually used in the plural.
[1913 Webster]
6. A {condom}. [Slang]
[PJC]
{Antimony rubber}, an elastic durable variety of vulcanized
caoutchouc of a red color. It contains antimony sulphide
as an important constituent.
{Hard rubber}, a kind of vulcanized caoutchouc which nearly
resembles horn in texture, rigidity, etc.
{India rubber}, caoutchouc. See {Caoutchouc}.
{Rubber cloth}, cloth covered with caoutchouc for excluding
water or moisture.
{Rubber dam} (Dentistry), a shield of thin sheet rubber
clasped around a tooth to exclude saliva from the tooth.
[1913 Webster]