1940, from the U.S. cartoonist Reuben Lucius Goldberg (1883-1970) who devised fantastically complex gadgetry to accomplish simple tasks. His British counterpart was Heath Robinson (1872-1944).
rubbery
rubbish
rubble
rub-down
rube
Rube Goldberg
rubella
Rubenesque
Rubicon
rubicund
Rubik's Cube
