rubbish English · revision 1944
15 Oct 2026, 00:21 by bogdan “New entry from dictionary sources” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈɹʌbɪʃ/^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It comes from Middle English ''robous'', ''robys'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) found in Anglo-French ''rubouses'' (1392–93),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) a word of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It appears to be related in some way to [[rubble]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The ending ''-ish'' may come from a mistaken association with the verb [[rub]].^(Barnhart 1995)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Waste or refuse, especially debris from the decay or demolition of buildings (1392–3).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The spelling with ''-ish'' appears in the late 15th century (1477).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) By about 1600 the word meant any worthless stuff, and also a worthless person;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) by 1612 it meant nonsensical ideas or writing.^(OED 1989) It has been used as an exclamation, “nonsense!”, since 1863.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) The verb, to criticize harshly, is Australian and New Zealand slang from 1953.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1392–3 – debris, refuse.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)
+ * 1477 – the spelling ''robish''.^(Barnhart 1995)
+ * 1601 – worthless stuff.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1612 – nonsense.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1863 – as an interjection.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1953 – verb, to disparage.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Waste material; refuse or trash.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Worthless material or things.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Foolish talk or writing; nonsense.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ===Verb===
+ # ''(chiefly Australian, New Zealand and British)'' To criticize harshly.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ===Interjection===
+ # Nonsense!^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[rubbishy]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[rubble]]
+ * [[trash]]
+ * [[garbage]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}