Rub of the green

Rub Rub, n. [Cf. W. rhwb. See Rub, v,t,] 1. The act of rubbing; friction. [1913 Webster]

2. That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment; especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome; a pinch. [1913 Webster]

Every rub is smoothed on our way. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Upon this rub, the English ambassadors thought fit to demur. --Hayward. [1913 Webster]

One knows not, certainly, what other rubs might have been ordained for us by a wise Providence. --W. Besant. [1913 Webster]

3. Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; unevenness. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a hard rub. [1913 Webster]

5. Imperfection; failing; fault. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

6. A chance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Flight shall leave no Greek a rub. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

7. A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a whetstone; -- called also {rubstone}. [1913 Webster]

{Rub iron}, an iron guard on a wagon body, against which a wheel rubs when cramped too much.

{Rub of the green} (Golf), anything happening to a ball in motion, such as its being deflected or stopped by any agency outside the match, or by the fore caddie. [1913 Webster + Webster 1913 Suppl.]