drub
[verb]
Synonyms: beat, baste, batter, belabor, buffet, lambaste, paste, pound, thrash, wallop, blister, castigate, excoriate, flay, lash (into), scorch, score, scourge, slash, whip, clobber, lick, overwhelm, shellac, smear, trim

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

drub noun & verb. [drʌb] E17.
[Prob. ult. from Arab. araba beat, (pronounced reb or similarly in NW Africa).]
A. noun. A blow, a thump. Formerly spec., a bastinado. E17.
b. verb. Infl. -bb-.
1. verb trans. Beat with a stick; cudgel, flog, thump; beat in a fight or contest. Formerly spec., bastinado. M17.
■ W. Besant He drubbed and belaboured his servants every day.
■ S. Kingsley We must drub the enemy and drub him soundly. Toronto Star It was no contest last night as the Islanders drubbed the Habs, 7-0.

2. verb trans. Drive (an idea etc.) into or out of a person, drive (a person) into or out of a habit etc., by drubbing. L17.

3. verb trans. Abuse or criticize roundly. E19.

4. verb trans. & intrans. Beat, beat on, (a drum etc.), hit repeatedly; stamp (one's foot). M19.
■ W. D. Howells Teaching the young..how to drub the piano.
■ C. Raine Thugs who drub The helpless air with clubs.

5. verb intrans. Give out a sound of being beaten. M19.
■ S. Middleton The signal drubbed on unanswered.

■ drubber noun E18.

■ drubbing verbal noun (a) the action of the verb; (b) a beating, a thrashing: M17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲