A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Rubber, -(o)ur(e, n. Also: rouber, rowbber; ruber, -ar; robor. [e.m.E. rubber (1536); Rub(b v.]
1. A brush or cloth, used for rubbing in order to clean, polish, etc.With the quot. for 1672, cf. 17th c. Eng. rubber, ‘an implement of metal or stone used for rubbing, esp. in order to smooth or flatten a surface.1540 Treas. Acc. VII 407.
xij spungis and vj rubaris 1541–2 Ib. VIII 53.
Rubbour 1542 Acts & Decr. I 140b.
Rowbber 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 364.
Ane spunge and ane rubbur to my lord governoris chalmer 1551 Ib. X 39.
Rubber 1561 Ib. XI 95.
Rubboure 1575 Dumfries B. Ct. MS 20 Jan.
Robor 1666 Edinb. Test. LXXII 150.
Ane hand rubber with ane blak brush 1672 Thanes of Cawdor 325.
Ane rouber with leid and ane brush bussom 1688–9 Glasgow B. Rec. III 513.
For rubberis to the tounes use 1691 Soc. Ant. LIII 61.
Ane ruber, paidle and brass pane 1694 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 165.
For a washing ruber, 9 s.
2. One who makes grain into meal by grinding it in a grain-rubber or shallow mortar, intended for domestic use. Cf. Rub(b v. 2.1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 382.
That na rubberis of meill be fund in the merkett under the payne of banesing 1605 Glasgow Chart. I dcxviii.
Seing the rubberris of meill ar dischairgit be the actis of the toun as hurtfull to the commoun weill [etc.] 1682 Glasgow B. Rec. III 317.
They discharge the common rubberis fra rubbing any meall in tyme coming, allowing the same to the selleris only themselves, or their meneall servantis whom they bring with them, certifieing such of the touns people and common rubberis as shall … committ any abuse or murmure against the helping of the measouris, they shall be banished
