rubble 
The sub-soil is the disintegrated portion of the rock be- 
, mid this often forms a "brush," a term applied to the 
Th 
low, 
rubble formed on the limestones, especially in the Oolitic 
strata. Woodward, Oeol. of Eng. and Wales (id ed.), p. 51. 
2. Masonry of rubble; rubble- work. 3. By 
extension, any solid substance in iiregularly 
broken pieces, (a) A mass or aggregation of irregular 
pieces of ice broken off by the action of heavy Hoes, as in 
the arctic seas. 
By dint of extraordinary exertions the sledge was got 
through the rubble to a paleeocrystic floe, but the rough 
work necessitated the rehishing of the boat on the sledge. 
A. II'. Greelu, Arctic Service, p. 230. 
(6) The whole of the bran of wheat before it is sorted into 
pollard, bran, etc. [Prov. Eng. | Random nibble. See 
nibble- a- art. Rubble drain. See drain. Snecked rub- 
ble, masonry laid up with rough or irregular stones, but 
so fitted as to preserve a strong bond. See rubble-work, 
itneclriny. 
rubble-ice (rub'l-is), . Fragmentary ice ; rub- 
ble. See rubble, 3 (a). 
Stopped by dense nibble-ice, which extended as far south 
as could be seen. 
Scldey and Soley, Rescue of Greely, p. 21ti. 
rubble-stone (rub'1-ston), . Same as rubble, 1. 
rubble-walling (rub'l-wa"liug), . Same as 
rubble-ifork. 
rubble-work (rub'1-werk), H. Masonwork built 
of rubble-stone. Rubble walls are either coursed or 
uncoursed : in the former the stones are roughly dressed 
and laid in courses, but without regard to equality in the 
height of the courses ; in the latter (called random nibble) 
the stones are used as they occur, the interstices between 
them being filled in with smaller pieces, or with mortar or 
clay, etc. 
rubbly (rub'li), a. [< nibble + -yl.} Abound- 
ing in small irregular stones; containing or 
consisting of rubble. 
The rubbly lavas of the basal series. 
Daru-in, Geol. Observations, i. 87. 
Rubeae (rii'be-e), . pi. [NL. (Bentham ami 
Hooker, 1865), < Rubus + -eee.} A tribe of rosa- 
ceous plants, consisting of the genus Rubii* 
(which see for characters). 
Rubecula (ro-bek'u-la), n. [XL., dim., < L. ru- 
bere, be red: see ruby.} A name of the genus 
of birds of which Erytliacu* rubeciila. the Eu- 
ropean robin-redbreast, is the typical species : 
same as Erytliacit*. Brelim, 1828. 
rubedinous (ro-bed'i-nus), . [< L. rubedo (ru- 
bedin-), redness (< rtiben:, be red), + -vug: see 
rttiy.raP.] Reddish. 
rubedity (ro-bed'i-ti), n. [Irreg. L. rubedo, red- 
ness (see rubediiiotis), + -ity.} Ruddiness; red- 
dishiiess ; rubiginous coloration. 
rubefacient (ro-be-fa'shient), . and it. [< L. 
rubefacieii(t-)x, ppr.of ruoefaoew, make red : see 
rubify.} I. . Making red; producing redness, 
us a medicinal application on the skin. 
II. . An application which causes redness 
or hyperemia of the skin where it is applied, as 
a mustard plaster. 
rubefaction (rO-be-fak'shon), . [Also rubi- 
factiou ; < F. rvMfaction = Sp. rubefaecion, < L. 
rubefaeerr, make red : see rubify and rubefa- 
cient.'] Redness of the skin produced by a ru- 
befacient ; also, the action of a rubefacieut. 
rubelett (ro'be-let), H. [As ruby + -let.} A 
little ruby. 
About the cover of this book there went 
A curious-comely, clean compartiment ; 
And, In the midst, to grace it more, was set 
A blushing, pretty-peeping rubelet. 
UerricJc, To his Closet-Gods. 
rubella (ro-bel'ii), . [NL., fern, of L. rubel- 
iiis, reddish, dim. of niber. red: see ruby.} A 
usually insignificant contagious disease, with 
a rose-colored eruption, slight catarrnal symp- 
toms in the mucous membranes of the head and 
larger air-passages of the chest, and usually 
slight pyrexia and cervical lymphadenitis. The 
incubation period is from one to three weeks ; there is no 
prodromal period, or it is only for a few hours. The rash, 
which migrates, lasts in one place not more than half a 
day, but is present on the body somewhere from two to 
four days. Rubella protects against second attacks, but 
not against measles or scarlet fever, with one or the other 
of which it is sometimes confused. Also called i-ubeulu 
and German measles. 
rubellane (ro'bel-an), . [< L. nibelhis. red- 
dish (see rubella). + -tine.} A kind of mica hav- 
ing a reddish color. 
rubellite (ro'bel-it), , [< L. rubetlits, reddish. 
(see rubella), + -ite'l.} A red or pink variety 
of tourmalin found on the island of Elba, in 
Siberia, in Brazil, and at Paris in Maine. The 
ruby in the imperial crown of Russia is believed 
to be a rubellite. 
Rubensian (ro-ben'si-an), a. and n. [< Ruben* 
(see def.) + -iV.] I'.' n. Of or pertaining to, 
or characteristic of, the Flemish painter Peter 
Paul Rubens (1577-1640). 
The composition is distinguished by the true Itulinutian 
swing and emphatic movement. Athtiurum, .So. 3247, p. 90. 
.->_>:> 1 
II. u. A follower in- an admirer of Rubens; 
one who belongs to the school or who imitates 
the style of Rubens, described by Fuseli as "a 
florid system of mannered magnificence." 
Rubens's madder. See uiuddi-r la/.cs, under 
madder 1 . 
rubeola (ro-be'o-lji), H. [NL.,diiu., < L. rubrii*. 
red : see ruby.} In med. : () Same as measlex, 1. 
(b) Rubella. 
rubeolar (ro-be'o-ljjr), u. [< rubeolu + -ar'*.} 
Pertaining to, of the nature of, or character- 
istic of rubeola or measles. 
rubeoloid (ro-be'o-loid), (i. [< ndu-ola + -old.} 
Resembling rubeola. 
ruberite (rS'ber-it), . [< L. niber, red (see 
red 1 ), + -ife 2 .] Same as cujirite. 
ruberythric (rp-be-rith'rik), a. [< L. rubiii. 
madder, + GT. tpifyxif, red, + -/>.] Derived from 
madder-root Ruberythric acid. Same as rutaanic 
acid. 
rubescence (ro-bes'ens), n. [< rnbesc.en(t) + 
-a:} A growing riibescent or red; the state 
of becoming or being red; a blush. Roaet. 
rubescent (ro-bes'ent), a. [= F. rubescciit, < 
L. rubeaceii(t-)n, ppr. of rubescere, become red, 
< ruberc, be red: see mini, rcrf'.] Growing or 
becoming red; tending to a red color; blushing. 
Rubia (ro'bi-a), u. [NL. (Tournefort, 1700), < 
L. rubia (> It" robbia = Sp. rubiii = Pg. riiivu), 
madder, < rubeux, red, < rubere. be red : see ruby.} 
A genus of gamopetalous plants, including the 
madder, type of the order Rubiaeea, belong- 
ing to the tribe Caliex, distinguished from the 
closely related and well-known genus Galiinn. 
the bedstraw, by flowers with parts in fives in- 
stead of fours. It is further characterized by the ah- 
sence of an involucre from the flowers, by a roundish calyx- 
tube without border, a wheel-shaped corolla, five stamens, 
a minute disk, and an ovary commonly two- celled and two- 
"Vii In I. forming a small fleshy twin fruit. There are about 
38 species, natives of the Mediterranean region, tropical 
and temperate Asia, Smith Africa, and tropical and tem- 
perate South America. They are herbs with elongated 
angled stems, which are commonly rigid or minutely 
prickly, and with large thickened roots sometimes 3 feet 
long. They bear whorled lanceolate or obovate leaves, 
usually four at a node, and small flowers In axillary or 
terminal cymes, with their pedicels each jointed under 
the calyx. .See madderl and munjeet. 
Rubiaceae (ro-bi-a'se-e), . j>l. [NL., < Rubin + 
-iieese.} A very natural and distinct order of 
gamopetalous plants, of the cohort Kiibialen, 
typified by the genus Rubia. The flowers are com- 
monly perfect, regular, and symmetrical, the corolla most 
frequently salverform or wheel-shaped, often funnelform 
or bell shaped, usually with equal valvate lobes; the sta- 
mens borne upon the corolla-tube, of the same number as 
its lobes and alternate with them, the anthers two-celled 
and usually oblong-linear: the ovary, which Is crowned 
with a disk, one- to ten-celled, with one or more, com- 
monly very numerous, ovules in each cell. The fruit 
is from one- to ten-celled, capsular or fleshy, or separat- 
ing into nutlets, the seeds with fleshy or corneous albu- 
men. The order is one of the largest among flowering 
plants, containing about 4,500 species of 373 genera and 
25 tribes, and surpassed only by the Compttxittr, Legu- 
minosee, and Orehidex. The most important tribes are 
Ciitchonetf, Nauclete, Jlondeletieae, Hedyotidetc, Mwn- 
dete, Gardeniete, Ixvrex, Morindex. Psychotriex, Peede- 
rieee, Spennacocex, and Galiex. The species are more 
abundant in America, and are all tropical except two 
tribes, the Galieee of the northern and the Anthospermtir 
of the southern hemisphere. They are trees, shrubs, or 
herbs, and exhibit great variety of habit, being either 
erect, prostrate, or climbing, and sometimes thorny, but 
have remarkable uniformity of leaf-structure, varying from 
the entire- and opposite-leafed type in but very few cases. 
Stipules are well-nigh universal, and very various, being 
inter- or fntra-petiolar, simple or two-cleft or -divided. 
free or united with the petiole, etc. ; in the tribe Galiett 
resembling the leaves, and with them making out a whorl. 
The flowers are very often dimorphous or trimorphous in 
the length of their stamens and pistils ; and In some gen- 
era they are capitately disposed, giving rise to a syncar- 
pous fruit through the union of their calyxes. Some 
genera as Bmtrardia and Gardenia contain ornamen- 
tal plants, and several supply important products, Gotten 
yielding coffee, and Cinchona the cinchona-bark: while 
Jtitbia (the type) contains the madder-plant, whence the 
order is often called the madder familti. 
rubiaceous (i-o-bi-a'shiiis)," a. 'in bat., belong- 
ing to or characteristic of the Rubiaeeee. . 
rubiacin (ro'bi-a-sin), n. [< ltubiac(ese) + 
-in".} A yellow crystallizable coloring matter 
found in madder-root. 
. 
Rubiales (ro-bi-a'lez), H. t il. [NL. (Lindley. 
lH4i>), < L. rubiri, madder : see Unhid.} A cohort 
of gamopetalous plants. They are characterized by 
opposite leaves, a calyx-tube adherent to the inferior 
ovary, a calyx-border toothed, lobed, or rarely obsolete. 
stamens fixed upon the corolla, alternate with and com- 
monly equal to its lobes, the anthers separate, the ovary 
commonly two- to eight-celled, each cell sometimes witii 
one. more often with two or more ovules, the seeds with 
copious fleshy albumen. It includes the two orders Rubi- 
acex and Caprifoliaceff, the madder and honeysuckle fain i- 
lies, the former commonly with and the latter without 
stipules. 
rubian (ro'bi-an), n. [< L. rubiii. madder (sec 
Rubin), + -an.} A bitter principle and color- 
rubific 
producing matter (C 28 H 3 iOj 5 ) of madder. It is 
a glucoside, amorphous, very soluble in water and alcohol, 
and has a yi-llmv color and a slightly bitter taste. It is a 
very weak dye by itself, but is decomposed on boiling with 
an acid, and deposits insoluble yellow nocks, which, after 
being separated by filtration and well washed, serve as 
dye for the same colors as those given by madder. The 
tinctorial power of these (locks is due to alizarin. 
rubianic(ro-bi-au'ik),rt. [< rubian +-.] Per- 
taining to or derived from rubian. Rublanlc 
acid, C-wHjigQn, a weak acid obtained from madder, Itu 
>/<<! tt'urttrrtnn. 
rubiate(ro'bi-at),H. [<L. rubia, madder (see Ru- 
bin), + -<!.] A pigment obtained from mad- 
der Liquid rublate, a concentrated tincture of mad- 
der, very transparent and of a fine rose-color. Combined 
with all other madder colors, it works well in water and 
produces beautiful etfects. It acts as a drier in oil. Also 
called liquid madder late. Purple rublate. See purple. 
rubiblet, Same as ribi/ili- for ribibe. 
rubican (r6'bi-kan), . [< F. rubicau = Sp. rti- 
biftut = Pg. rubicSo, rubicano, rubican, = It. ra- 
hii-nnii. roan, a roan horse (cf. "rabbicane, a 
horse that is fashioned in the bodie like a grey- 
hound, or that hath a white taile or rump" 
Flurio. 1611); perhaps (irreg.) < L. rubricare, 
color red : see rubricate.'] Noting the color of 
a bay, sorrel, or black horse with light gray 
or white upon the flanks, but not predominant 
there, /iniley, 1727. 
rubicativet (i-o'bi-ka-tiv), . [Appar. for *ru- 
liricative, or for "rubijicatire = It. rubificajtivo, < 
ritbijicare: see rubify.} That which produces a 
reddish or ruby color. Imp. Diet. 
rubicel. rubicelle (ro'bi-sel), . [< F. rubicelle. 
also ritbacellc. dim. of rubnce, a species of ruby : 
see riibasfte.} An orange or flame-colored vari- 
ety of spinel. 
A pretty rubicelle of three quarters of a carat. 
Pop. Sri. Jfo., XXVIII. 825. 
rubicund (rO'bi-kuud), a. [< OF. rubicunde, ru- 
bicond, F. rubicund = Sp. Pg. rubicitado = It. ru- 
bicondo, < L. rubicundus, very red, < rubere, be 
red: see ruby.} Inclining to redness ; ruddy ; 
blood-red: said especially of the face; in bo'l., 
turning rosy-red. 
He had, indeed, all the outward signs of a sot : a sleepy 
eye, a rubicund face, and carbuncled nose. 
Smollett, Travels, U. 
Kalstatf alludes to Pistol's rubicund nose. 
/''"v, Illustrations of Shakspeare, p. 30. 
= 8yn. Rosy. etc. Has ruddy. 
rubicundity (ro-bi-kun'di-ti). M. [< ML. rubi- 
<-uiidit<i(t-)s, redness, < rubicundus, red: see 
rubicund.} The state of being rubicund ; red- 
ness. [Rare.] 
I do not wish you to parade your rubicundity and gray 
hairs. H. Walpule. (Imp. Diet.) 
rubidic (r6-bid'ik), n. [< rubidium + -ie.} Of 
or pertaining to rubidium. 
rubidin (ro'bi-din), . [< L. rubidus, red, reddish, 
+ -in 2 .] A basic coal-tar product (CjjH^N), 
which is also found as a product in tobacco- 
smoke. 
rubidium (ro-bid'i-um), . [NL., < L. rubidus, 
red, reddish, < rubere, be red: see ruby.} Chemi- 
cal symbol, Rb ; atomic weight, 85.25. A metal 
belonging to the group of elements which in- 
cludes lithium, sodium, potassium, and caesium : 
so named from the reddish tint of its salts. 
It is very soft, is silver-white in color, has a specific 
gravity of 1.52, and melts at about 101 Tf. When thrown 
into water it burns, forming rubidium hydrate, RbOH. 
Rubidium was first detected by the spectroscope, together 
with caisium. in the mineral water of Diirkheim, in which 
it exists to the amount of two parts in ten million. It has 
since been found in considerable quantity, together with 
ca'sium and lithium, in several other saline waters, and 
most abundantly in that of Bourbonne-les- Bains in France. 
It is also found in several lepidolites: that of Bozena. in 
Moravia, contains 0.24 per cent, of rubidium, with only a 
trace of cresium ; that of Hebron, In the State of Maine, 
n.-24 percent, of rubidium and 0.3 per cent, of cecsium. The 
two metals likewise occur, though in smaller quantity, in 
the lepidoliteof Prague, the petalite of I'to in Finland, the 
lithia-mica of Zinnwald in the Erzgebirge. and other lithia 
minerals. It has been found also in the ashes of many 
plants, and in the saline or crude potash obtained from the 
residue of the beet-sugar manufacture. It has been found 
in tobacco-leaves, and in coffee, tea, cocoa, and crude tar- 
tar. In minerals and mineral waters rubidium and cwsi- 
um are always associated with lithium, and generally also 
with potassium and sodium ; but plants have the power 
<>f a.sMmilating two or three of these metals to the exclu- 
sion of the rest; thus, tea, coffee, and the saline of beet- 
root contain potassium, sodium, and rubidium, but not a 
trace of lithium. 
rubied (rii'bid), n. [< ruby + -nl~.} Having the 
color of the ruby ; ruby-red : as, a rubied lip. 
Twin with the ndnttd cherry. 
Shak.. Pericles, v.. Prol., 1. 8. 
rubifaction (ro-bi-fak'shou), . Same as rubr- 
I'lli-tion. 
rubiflc (ro-bif'ik), . [< L. rubere, be red, + fii- 
cciv. make. Cf. rubify.} Making red; commu- 
nicating redness. 
