2. That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct
motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment;
especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome;
a pinch.
Every rub is smoothed on our way. --Shak.
To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub.
--Shak.
Upon this rub, the English ambassadors thought fit
to demur. --Hayward.
One knows not, certainly, what other rubs might have
been ordained for us by a wise Providence. --W.
Besant.
3. Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of
bowls; unevenness. --Shak.
4. Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a
hard rub.
5. Imperfection; failing; fault. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
Flight shall leave no Greek a rub. --Chapman.
7. A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a
whetstone; -- called also {rubstone}.
{Rub iron}, an iron guard on a wagon body, against which a
wheel rubs when cramped too much.