Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rubbish \Rub"bish\, n. [OE. robows, robeux, rubble, originally
   an Old French plural from an assumed dim. of robe, probably
   in the sense of trash; cf. It. robaccia trash, roba stuff,
   goods, wares, robe. Thus, etymologically rubbish is the pl.
   of rubble. See {Robe}, and cf. {Rubble}.]
   Waste or rejected matter; anything worthless; valueless
   stuff; trash; especially, fragments of building materials or
   fallen buildings; ruins; d['e]bris.

         What rubbish and what offal!             --Shak.

         he saw the town's one half in rubbish lie. --Dryden.

   {Rubbish pulley}. See {Gin block}, under {Gin}.