rubber hose

noun

A classic animated cartoon style which was first introduced in the early 20th century.

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Meanings

nounrubber hose (uncountable)

alternative rubber-hose

  1. idiomaticuncountableanimationA classic animated cartoon style which was first introduced in the early 20th century.

    Bill Nolan[…]happened on something that was soon dubbed "rubber hose" animation.

    [1985, Joe Adamson, The Walter Lantz Story: With Woody Woodpecker and Friends, page 38
    1 more example

    Hey pals, I have a whole bunch of articles about classic animation history and styles, but I'm stuck for the moment. I want to do an article about rubber hose animation from 1928-1993 and am having trouble finding artwork or frame grabs to illustrate it.

    2006 April 26, John K, “Help me do some Rubber Hose crap”, in johnkstuff.blogspot.com
  2. uncountableUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rubber, hose.

Origin

From rubber + hose.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rubber hose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rubber%20hose

MLA

“rubber hose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rubber%20hose. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rubber hose,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rubber%20hose.

Source: rubber hose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.