MEANING:
adjective: Absurdly complex or impractical.
ETYMOLOGY:
After cartoonist Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) who was known for his intricate drawings showing fantastically impractical contraptions to accomplish simple jobs. Earliest documented use: 1928.
USAGE:
"A Rube Goldberg solution to a simple problem, Sea Swap has proved too unstable for long-term practice."
Matthew Hipple; Sea Swap: It's a Trap; United States Naval Institute Proceedings; Jul 2013.