Definition of rubbish

The word "rubbish" has a fascinating origin! It comes from the Old French word "rubisher," which means "to reduce to dust." This term was first used in the 14th century to describe the act of crushing or pulverizing something, like stones or glass. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of something being worthless or of little value. In the 17th century, "rubbish" began to be used to describe discarded or useless material, like trash or garbage. Today, the word "rubbish" is commonly used in British English to describe waste or refuse, while in American English, the preferred term is often "trash" or "garbage." Despite these slight differences, the core meaning of the word has remained the same – to describe something as useless, worthless, or discarded.