Rugby

[ ruhg-bee ]

noun

1. Usually rugby. Also called rugger, a form of football, played between two teams of 15 members each, that differs from soccer in freedom to carry the ball, block with the hands and arms, and tackle, and is characterized chiefly by continuous action and prohibition against the use of substitute players.
2. a town in Warwickshire, in central England.
3. a coeducational preparatory school in Rugby, England, founded in 1567.

rugby

¹

/ ˈrʌɡbɪ /

noun

1. Also calledrugger a form of football played with an oval ball in which the handling and carrying of the ball is permitted
2. See Canadian football
   another name for Canadian football

Rugby

²

/ ˈrʌɡbɪ /

noun

1. a town in central England, in E Warwickshire: famous public school, founded in 1567. Pop: 61 988 (2001)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rugby¹

Probably earlier than 1835–40 Rugby fordef 1; Middle English Rokeby, Rookby, Old English Rocheberie, possibly earlier Hrōcaburg, Hrōceburh (unrecorded) “Hroca's fort,” influenced by Old Norse býr “town, settlement”; borough ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rugby¹

C19: named after the public school at Rugby, where it was first played

Example Sentences

The royal couple then traveled on to the Welsh capital of Cardiff to watch a rugby match between Wales and Australia.

From The Daily Beast

Another was Greg Jacob, a pro rugby player for Gaelic Athletic Association.

From The Daily Beast

The Haka, a traditional Maori dance, is best known as the pregame ritual of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team.

From The Daily Beast

Some English teams were having none of it and formed leagues to play rugby from which the NFL real football evolved.

From The Daily Beast

French rugby players provided similar knowing delight in their Dieux du Stade calendars.

From The Daily Beast

They sent a few years ago some young Tibetan boys to Rugby to be educated in different professions.

From Project Gutenberg

"Rugby, because a fellow I know is there," replied Colin, decisively.

From Project Gutenberg

"I shall go to Rugby too, when Colin does," announced Jamie confidently.

From Project Gutenberg

Here were born six of his nine children; the youngest three, besides one who died in infancy, were born at Rugby.

From Project Gutenberg

At Rugby he made it an essential part of the headmaster's office to preach a sermon every Sunday in the school chapel.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• soccer