Slub

[TRex]

Is slub really a common word (Challenge puzzle, Saturday 31 July 2010)? It's not a word I can recall ever encountering. (When I typed it, I even got the red squiggly underline!)

[ensiform]

I agree; it's in the jargon category.

[mkenuk]

'a lump or thick place in yarn or thread' (Concise Oxford) (origin unknown). I can't say it's a word I've ever had occasion to use, even in a crossword; I'll file it in the 'useful to remember for Scrabble' category. Coincidentally, 'burl' ('a lump in wool or cloth') was in yesterday's challenge.
Mike K

[mkenuk]

'slub' of course is also the start of one of the greatest words ever coined - 'slubberdegullion', a dirty, slovenly person. What a wonderful word!

[Linda]

Slub is a common word around these parts and not a word that I would class as rare!   

[pat]

Same here, Linda, although I think the word is more common in the form of an adjective i.e. slubbed.

[bobbi]

I had to look up slub - never seen it before   

[birdy]

I don't know it at all.

[Alan W]

The word is vaguely familiar to me, in expressions like "slubbed silk". But oddly enough slubbed is classed as rare, along with slubbing, slubber, etc. It's only slub which is common.

The various forms of the word are used infrequently, and that mainly in specialist writing. So I agree, it should be made rare.

It seems that slubbing was once a specialised job, of drawing out and twisting wool or cotton, preparatory to spinning. The slubber's work was eventually mechanised, with the aid of a machine called the slubbing billy.