n. & v.
n. 1 an open flat-bottomed usu. round container for various purposes. 2 a tub-shaped (usu. plastic) carton. 3 the amount a tub will hold. 4 colloq. a bath. 5 a colloq. a clumsy slow boat. b a stout roomy boat for rowing practice. 6 (in mining) a container for conveying ore, coal, etc.
v. (tubbed, tubbing) 1 tr. & intr. plant, bathe, or wash in a tub. 2 tr. enclose in a tub. 3 tr. line (a mine-shaft) with a wooden or iron casing. tub chair a chair with solid arms continuous with a usu. semicircular back. tub-thumper colloq. a ranting preacher or orator. tub-thumping colloq. ranting oratory. tubbable adj. tubbish adj. tubful n. (pl. -fuls).
[ ME, prob. of LG or Du. orig.: cf. MLG, MDu. tubbe ]