English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English rispen, from Old Norse rispa (scratch), from Proto-Germanic *ripsōną (to rend; rip; tear open), from Proto-Indo-European *reyb- (to tear; snatch; pluck; reap). Compare also Old Norse rifsa (to plunder; reave).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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risp (third-person singular simple present risps, present participle risping, simple past and past participle risped)

  1. To rub together, to rasp or grate.

Noun

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risp (plural risps)

  1. A rubbing or grating together.
    • 1974, Guy Davenport, Tatlin!: Six Stories, New York, N.Y.: Scribner, →ISBN:
      [T]hat Greek waste silent but for the risp of the tettix and the wash of listless wind through the spare grass.

Anagrams

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