scrubbing

see definition of scrubbing

nounrubbing

Word Origin & History

"rub hard," early 15c., earlier shrubben (c.1300), perhaps from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German schrubben "to scrub," or from an unrecorded Old English cognate, or from a Scandinavian source (cf. Danish skrubbe "to scrub"), probably ultimately from the Proto-Germanic root of shrub, used as a cleaning tool (cf. the evolution of broom, brush (n.1)).

Meaning "to cancel" is attested from 1828 (popularized during World War II with reference to flights), probably from notion of "to rub out, erase" an entry on a listing. Related: Scrubbed; scrubbing.

Example Sentences for scrubbing

Pop was putting away the dishes, and Jud was scrubbing out the sink.

Bill was scrubbing the porch, and a farmhand was gathering bottles from the grass into a box.

Even when fresh from a scrubbing, his hands were not entirely clean.

Pansy Murphy was scrubbing out the office when he came down for breakfast.

The grime was perpetually renewed; scrubbing only ground it in.

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Synonyms for scrubbing

noun rubbing

More words related to scrubbing

bath

noun. washing with water and, usually, soap

cleaning

noun. cleansing

Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.