Rugby

[ ruhg-bee ]

noun

1. Usually rugby. Also called rugger, a form of football, played between two teams of 15 members each, that differs from soccer in freedom to carry the ball, block with the hands and arms, and tackle, and is characterized chiefly by continuous action and prohibition against the use of substitute players.
2. a town in Warwickshire, in central England.
3. a coeducational preparatory school in Rugby, England, founded in 1567.

rugby

¹

/ ˈrʌɡbɪ /

noun

1. Also calledrugger a form of football played with an oval ball in which the handling and carrying of the ball is permitted
2. another name for Canadian football

Rugby

²

/ ˈrʌɡbɪ /

noun

1. a town in central England, in E Warwickshire: famous public school, founded in 1567. Pop: 61 988 (2001)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rugby¹

Probably earlier than 1835–40 Rugby fordef 1; Middle English Rokeby, Rookby, Old English Rocheberie, possibly earlier Hrōcaburg, Hrōceburh (unrecorded) “Hroca's fort,” influenced by Old Norse býr “town, settlement”; borough ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rugby¹

C19: named after the public school at Rugby, where it was first played

Example Sentences

The cancellation of the Wales v Scotland Six Nations rugby match, in March 2020, 24 hours before it had been due to start, was referenced several times.

From BBC

"The biggest thing about that system is scramble," he told Rugby Union Weekly earlier this week.

From BBC

But they kept the faith, kept flying up in defence and, a year later, stepped up to lift the Rugby World Cup, having suffocated their way to the title.

From BBC

"We're excited to challenge ourselves against the world's top-ranked team and back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions," said Borthwick.

From BBC

The Springboks arrive in London following victory over Scotland, having claimed their first Rugby Championship title since 2019 in September.

From BBC

Related Words

• soccer