Frubbish

/ˈfrʌbɪʃ/ verb

Definition

To rub, scrub, or move something roughly back and forth in a harsh manner.

Etymology

Possibly from Old English or Middle Low German roots related to rubbing or friction. The word appears sporadically in historical texts with unclear lineage, suggesting it may be a regional or dialectal term that never gained widespread currency.

Kelly Says

Frubbish is the kind of word that makes you wonder why it disappeared—it perfectly describes the sound and action of aggressive scrubbing, onomatopoetic before onomatopoeia was fashionable.

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