Drubbing
/ˈdrʌb.ɪŋ/noun
A severe beating, defeat, or thrashing.
Did you know?Unlike words with occult or astrological origins, *drubbing* is a plain but violent word tied to physical beating, and it later became a favorite metaphor for humiliating defeats in sport and politics.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dreb-
“to strike, beat, or drive”
Old English
English
drubben
“to beat or thrash”
Middle English
English
drubbe
“to beat, buffet, or strike repeatedly”
16th Century
English
drubbing
“the act of beating or thrashing”
Modern English
English
drubbing
“a severe beating or crushing defeat”