drubbing
[druhb-ing]
- a beating; a sound thrashing.
- a decisive, humiliating defeat, as in a game or contest.
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Origin of drubbing
drub
[druhb]
- to beat with a stick or the like; cudgel; flog; thrash.
- to defeat decisively, as in a game or contest.
- to drive as if by flogging: Latin grammar was drubbed into their heads.
- to stamp (the feet).
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- a blow with a stick or the like.
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Origin of drub
1625–35; perhaps by uncertain mediation < Arabic ḍarb blow, beating
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for drubbing
Contemporary Examples
Her Food Network-colleague Guy Fieri opened a new restaurant and Times Square and received a drubbing in The New York Times.
She took a drubbing, fielding accusations of self-aggrandizement from the financial press and fans alike.
The Republican senator took a drubbing in his own state from Democratic strategist Pat Caddell.
After the drubbing I gave James Turrell's Guggenheim mess, it's a pleasure to have found a Light And Space work I can get behind.
And conversely, how will Obama recover from this creaming, this drubbing at the hands of a man he despises?
Historical Examples
Then shall he not go without a ducking and eke a drubbing himself!
The Merry Adventures of Robin HoodHoward Pyle
I fancy I had some vague notion of falling upon him and giving him a drubbing.
Heart of DarknessJoseph Conrad
According to this fact I must admit, that he deserves a drubbing.
Foma GordyeffMaxim Gorky
Now and then a drubbing, but who pays any attention to such things!
Luna BenamorVicente Blasco Ibez
Some of you men 'd be the better for a drubbing every day of your lives.
Rhoda Fleming, CompleteGeorge Meredith
drubbing
- a beating, as with a stick, cudgel, etc
- a comprehensive or heavy defeat, esp in a sporting competition
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drub
- to beat as with a stick; cudgel; club
- to defeat utterly, as in a contest
- to drum or stamp (the feet)
- to instil with force or repetitionthe master drubbed Latin into the boys
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- a blow, as from a stick
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Word Origin
C17: probably from Arabic dáraba to beat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for drubbing
drub
v.
1630s (in an Oriental travel narrative), probably from Arabic darb "a beating," from daraba "he beat up" (see discussion in OED). Related: Drubbed; Drubbing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper