rubious

English

Etymology

From ruby +‎ -ous.

Adjective

rubious (comparative more rubious, superlative most rubious)

1. (uncommon) Ruby-colored.
   • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 257, column 2:

     Dianas lip
     Is not more ſmooth, and rubious: thy ſmall pipe
     Is as the maidens organ, ſhrill, and ſound,
     And all is ſemblatiue a womans part.

   • [1948], “[Minds] Bernard Shaw”, in Observer Profiles (Biography Index Reprint Series), Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, published [1970], →OCLC, page 150:

     As Shaw became less of the rubious-bearded rebel and more of the Public Institution, reporter-hunted, bore-pursued, the partnership must have been hard work at times.

References

• “rubious”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.