The DICT Development Group

  rub down
      v 1: wear away [syn: abrade, corrade, abrase, rub down,
           rub off]
      2: manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal
         or relaxation purposes; "She rubbed down her child with a
         sponge" [syn: massage, rub down, knead]

  31 Moby Thesaurus words for "rub down":
     bed, bed down, break, bridle, brush, caress, curry, currycomb,
     drench, feed, fodder, frictionize, gentle, groom, handle, harness,
     hitch, knead, litter, manage, massage, milk, pet, rub, saddle,
     stroke, tame, tend, train, water, yoke