rugby

/ˈɹʌɡbi/

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”).

name

  1. A town in Warwickshire, England, where the sport of rugby is thought to have originated (OS grid ref SP5075).
  2. A local government district with borough status in Warwickshire, with its headquarters in the town.
  3. A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Las Animas County, Colorado.
  4. A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Haw Creek Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana.
  5. A number of places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Pierce County, North Dakota.
  6. A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Morgan County and Scott County, Tennessee.

noun

  1. 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. The form of the game known as rugby union (see the usage note).
  3. Rubber cement, contact cement; commonly associated with solvent abuse, as it is often used as an inhalant.

verb

  1. To play rugby.