rugby

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A form of football in which players can hold or kick an ovoid ball; rugby football. The ball cannot be handled forwards and points are scored by touching the ball to the ground in the area past the opponent's territory or by kicking the ball between goalposts and over a crossbar.

   The scrum is a distinctive element of rugby.

2. 2
   noun

   Ellipsis of rugby shirt (“a shirt of the kind worn by rugby players, usually short-sleeved and with a buttoned opening at the neck like a polo shirt, but with a stiffer collar”).

   I don't know why, but for some reason people who work undercover for department store security always wear rugbies and khakis.

3. 3
   noun

   a form of football played with an oval ball

4. 4
   noun

   The form of the game known as rugby union (see the usage note).

5. 5
   verb

   To play rugby.

6. 6
   noun

   Rubber cement, contact cement; commonly associated with solvent abuse, as it is often used as an inhalant.

7. 7
   name

   A town in Warwickshire, England, where the sport of rugby is thought to have originated (OS grid ref SP5075).

8. 8
   name

   A local government district with borough status in Warwickshire, with its headquarters in the town.

Etymology

From earlier Rokeby (rook + -by), from Middle English Rokebi, an alteration (using the Middle English bi (“village, town”), from Old Norse býr (“town, settlement”)) of Old English Rocheberie, possibly from earlier Old English *Hrōceburh (literally “rook-fort, Rookbury”).