Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DRUB, v.t. [Sw. drabba, to touch, hit, beat; träffa, to hit, touch, reach, find; Dan. dræber, to kill; treffer, to hit; G. D. treffen; Gr. τριβω, to beat; Sax. tribulan, trifelan; It. trebbiare; L. tribula; allied probably to throb. These words seem to be from the same root as the French trouver, to find, that is, to hit, to strike on, and attraper and frapper, Eng. to rap. But perhaps there may be two different roots. See Class Rb, No. 4, 28, 29, 37, 39. Drubbing is a particular form of driving.]

To beat with a stick; to thrash; to cudgel. The little thief had been soundly drubbed with a cudgel. – L'Estrange.