brass-rubbing

[ bras-ruhb-ing, brahs- ]

/ ˈbræsˌrʌb ɪŋ, ˈbrɑs- /

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noun

an antiquarian's technique for copying designs from incised brass memorial slabs and the like.

a copy made by brass-rubbing.Compare rubbing (def. 2).

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Origin of brass-rubbing

First recorded in 1885–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use brass-rubbing in a sentence

The better she does,” she said, rubbing the skin around the clamps, “the heavier it gets.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Establishment figures, Tea Partiers, evangelicals, and libertarians will all be rubbing elbows at a single theater.
The Most Interesting Place to Be Tonight|Tim Mak|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But that project ran into serious hurdles with the network brass.
Life After ‘Winter’s Bone’: Debra Granik on Finding J. Law and the Plight of the Female Director|Marlow Stern|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So maybe we should take a lesson from women with brass ovaries: comedy and feminism are longstanding bedfellows.
Comedians and Feminism Getting Laughs|Agunda Okeyo|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But even as he was receiving awards, the military brass was processing his discharge—they had found out he was transgender.
Yes to LGB, No to T: The Pentagon Still Has a Transgender Ban|Tim Mak|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were provided with sails and twelve oars each, and a falconet, or small brass cannon.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
“Let us have some of your best wine to-day, waiter,” said old Wardle, rubbing his hands.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
"I wonder if 'twas a brass drum, such as has 'Eblubust Unum' printed on't," said Mrs. Slocum.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Picture frames, nicely moulded in brass, were made here in 1825, by a modeller named Maurice Garvey.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The air was heavy with the perfume of frankincense which smouldered in a brass vessel set upon a tray.
Dope|Sax Rohmer

British Dictionary definitions for brass-rubbing

brass rubbing

noun

the taking of an impression of an engraved brass tablet or plaque by placing a piece of paper over it and rubbing the paper with graphite, heelball, or chalk

an impression made in this way

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012