What is "india rubber"

India \In"di*a\, n. [See Indian.] A country in Southern Asia; the two peninsulas of Hither and Farther India; in a restricted sense, Hither India, or Hindostan.

India ink, a nearly black pigment brought chiefly from China, used for water colors. It is in rolls, or in square, and consists of lampblack or ivory black and animal glue. Called also China ink. The true India ink is sepia. See Sepia.

India matting, floor matting made in China, India, etc., from grass and reeds; -- also called Canton matting or China matting.

India paper, a variety of Chinese paper, of smooth but not glossy surface, used for printing from engravings, woodcuts, etc.

India proof (Engraving), a proof impression from an engraved plate, taken on India paper.

India rubber. See Caoutchouc.

India-rubber tree (Bot.), any tree yielding caoutchouc, but especially the East Indian Ficus elastica, often cultivated for its large, shining, elliptical leaves.

India rubber \In"di*a rub"ber\ See Caoutchouc.

Rubber \Rub"ber\, n.

1. One who, or that which, rubs. Specifically:

   1. An instrument or thing used in rubbing, polishing, or cleaning.

   2. A coarse file, or the rough part of a file.

   3. A whetstone; a rubstone.

   4. An eraser, usually made of caoutchouc or a synthetic rubber[4].

   5. The cushion of an electrical machine.

   6. One who performs massage, especially in a Turkish bath.

   7. Something that chafes or annoys; hence, something that grates on the feelings; a sarcasm; a rub.
      --Thackeray.

2. In some games, as bridge or whist, the odd game, as the third or the fifth, which decides the winner when there is a tie between the players; as, to play the rubber; also, a contest determined by the winning of two out of three games; as, to play a rubber of whist.
   --Beaconsfield. ``A rubber of cribbage.''
   --Dickens.

3. India rubber; caoutchouc; gum elastic; -- also called natural rubber.

4. Any substance, whether natural or synthetic, resembling India rubber with respect to its elasticity[1].

5. A low-cut overshoe made of natural or synthetic rubber[4], serving to keep the feet and shoes dry when walking in the rain or on a wet surface; -- usually used in the plural.

6. A condom. [Slang]

   Antimony rubber, an elastic durable variety of vulcanized caoutchouc of a red color. It contains antimony sulphide as an important constituent.

   Hard rubber, a kind of vulcanized caoutchouc which nearly resembles horn in texture, rigidity, etc.

   India rubber, caoutchouc. See Caoutchouc.

   Rubber cloth, cloth covered with caoutchouc for excluding water or moisture.

   Rubber dam (Dentistry), a shield of thin sheet rubber clasped around a tooth to exclude saliva from the tooth.

Caoutchouc \Caout"chouc\, n. [F. caoutchouc, from the South American name.] A tenacious, elastic, gummy substance obtained from the milky sap of several plants of tropical South America (esp. the euphorbiaceous tree Siphonia elastica or Hevea caoutchouc), Asia, and Africa. Being impermeable to liquids and gases, and not readly affected by exposure to air, acids, and alkalies, it is used, especially when vulcanized, for many purposes in the arts and in manufactures. Also called India rubber (because it was first brought from India, and was formerly used chiefly for erasing pencil marks) and gum elastic. See Vulcanization.

Mineral caoutchouc. See under Mineral.

alt. 1 The latex obtained from certain trees, especially those of the genera (taxlink Hevea genus) and ''Ficus'' 2 The rubber made from this latex. 3 An eraser made from this rubber. n. 1 The latex obtained from certain trees, especially those of the genera (taxlink Hevea genus) and ''Ficus'' 2 The rubber made from this latex. 3 An eraser made from this rubber.