ripper etymology

Etymology

The word "ripper" has several origins:

• Old English: "rippan," meaning "to tear, to cut, to carve"
• Middle English: "rippe," meaning "a tear" or "a cutting instrument"
• 19th-century Australian slang: "to rip," meaning "to steal" or "to vandalize"

Meaning

The term "ripper" has multiple meanings, depending on its context:

1. A person or thing that rips, tears, or cuts:

• "The ripper was a vicious animal that tore at its prey."
• "He used a ripper to cut the cloth into strips."

2. A person or thing that is extremely good or exceptional:

• "What a ripper of a movie!"
• "He's a ripper footy player."

3. A person who steals or vandalizes:

• "The rippers broke into the house and stole everything."
• "They're just a bunch of rippers."

4. A serial killer who murders and mutilates women:

• "Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer in Victorian London."

Origin

The term "ripper" as a slang term for an exceptionally good person or thing originated in Australia in the 19th century. It is believed to have been derived from the verb "to rip," which in Australian slang meant "to steal" or "to vandalize."

The term "Jack the Ripper" refers to the infamous serial killer who terrorized Whitechapel, London, in 1888. The killer's name was never identified, but the media dubbed him "Jack the Ripper" due to the gruesome nature of his crimes, which involved brutally mutilating female victims.

ripper relate terms

• ripping

  Etymology The word ripping derives from the Middle English term rippen which means

• ripping

  Etymology The word ripping derives from the Middle English term rippen which means

• bodice

  Etymology The word bodice originates from the Old English word bodice meaning a sm

• Jack

  Etymology Derived from the Middle English name Jakke a vernacular form of the Mediev

• demurrer

  Etymology Demurrer comes from the Old French word demurer meaning to stay delay or

• cohort

  Etymology The word cohort originates from the Latin word cohors which means enclosed

• academy

  Etymology The word academy comes from the Greek word akademeia which was the name of

• offend

  Etymology The word offend originated from the Latin word offendere which means to s

• planet

  Planet noun Etymology From Middle English planete derived from Old English planēta

• plantation

  Etymology Old French plantation from Latin plantātiō from plantāre to plant

• religion

  Etymology The word religion is derived from the Latin word religio which means rev