Defn: A stone for scouring or rubbing; a whetstone; a rub.
RUBUS
Ru"bus, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of rosaceous plants, including the raspberry and blackberry.
RUBY Ru"by, n.; pl. Rubies. Etym: [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See Rouge, red.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red. It is a red crystallized variety of corundum.
Note: Besides the true or Oriental ruby above defined, there are the balas ruby, or ruby spinel, a red variety of spinel, and the rock ruby, a red variety of garnet. Of rubies, sapphires, and pearles white. Chaucer.
2. The color of a ruby; carmine red; a red tint. The natural ruby of your cheeks. Shak.
3. That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.
4. (Print.)