rubout

plural rubouts · alternative rub-out

1. countableuncountableAn instance of erasing with a rubber.
2. broadlycountableslangAn assassination.

   This high-concept take on low life includes a concealed lethal weapon (by Claire Fontaine); photographic evidence of a rubout (by Torbjorn Rodland); and cryptic, possibly sinister messages galore from Tauba Auerbach, Daniel Knorr, David Lieske and Matias Faldbakken.

   2007 June 8, Holland Cotter, “Quirks and Attitude to Burn”, in New York Times

3. broadlydateduncountablecomputingSynonym of backspace.

   The TS-1000 had ENTER instead of NEW LINE and DELETE instead of RUBOUT.

   2002, Brotha G, “ZX81 Prototype Keyboard”, in comp.sys.sinclair (Usenet)

   1 more example

   A direct manipulation editor would support, for example, a single rubout key that uses the cursor to find the appropriate character for deletion […]

   1990, Michael D. Harrison, Harold Thimbleby, Formal methods in human-computer interaction, page 130

   Synonyms: backspace