Etymology: Apparently cognate with Norwegian (Nynorsk) ripel , repel , Danish regional (Jutland) rebel , both in sense ‘long narrow piece of something, strip’ < the Germanic base of Norwegian regional ripa to tear off (see ripple v.²) + the Germanic base of -el suffix¹. Compare repple n. and North Germanic forms at that entry.Compare also Shetland Scots repel (also rapel ) strip cut off the edges of flatfish, especially skate (probably < the unattested Norn cognate of the Scandinavian words listed above), and the derivative form riplins (plural), strips cut off the edges of flatfish, especially skate (probably < an unattested Norn word, cognate with or formed similarly to Swedish regional reppling a piece cut off, e.g. from meat, cheese, etc.; compare -ing suffix³). Attested earlier in place names, as Rippell, Worcestershire (first half of the 11th cent. in a copy of a charter of c680; also as Rippel (1086); now Ripple), probably with reference to a tongue of higher land along the Severn; Riple, Hampshire (1086; now Ripley); Ryple, Kent (13th cent. in a copy of a charter of 1087; now Ripple), probably with reference to a ridge of high ground; etc. Compare also the Shetland place name De Ripels, Fetlar, the name of a stretch of coast near Hubi, and also as a field name denoting strips of arable land near Fjel.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to West Frisian ripel , rūpel flax comb, Dutch repel flax comb (1695; also (regional: Eastern) reppel (late 18th cent.)), Middle Low German rēpele flax comb (German regional (Low German) repel , räpel ), Old High German riffila sharp-toothed implement (probably ‘saw’ or ‘rake’) (Middle High German rifel , riffel flax comb, German Riffel ) < an ablaut variant (zero-grade) of the same Germanic base as reap v.¹ + the Germanic base of -el suffix¹. Compare earlier ripple v.¹A synonymous formation from the same Germanic base, but without suffix, is probably seen in Dutch repe, Middle Low German rēpe, German Riffe.

Etymology: < ripple v.² Compare Norwegian regional ripla , ripel , Old Danish rible , riple , repel , etc. (Danish rible , †ribbel , †reble ), in the same sense. Compare earlier rippling n.², ripple n.¹, and perhaps also ruffle n.¹, ruffle n.²

Etymology: Probably an inferred singular < ripples n.

Etymology: < ripple v.³ Compare earlier rippling n.³, and also earlier riffle n.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to West Frisian ripelje , rûpelje , Middle Dutch repelen (Dutch repelen , (regional) reppelen ), Middle Low German repelen (German regional (Low German) repeln , räpeln ), Old High German riffilōn (glossing classical Latin serrāre to saw (see serrate v.); German riffeln ), all in the same senses, and all ultimately < the Germanic base of ripple n.² Compare later ripple n.²Compare also Dutch repen (16th cent.), Middle Low German rēpen (German regional (Low German) repen ), Middle High German reffen (German reffen ), and ( < Middle Low German) Swedish repa , all in the same senses (probably < the Germanic base of reap v.¹; compare the Germanic forms cited at ripple v.²).

Etymology: Probably < early Scandinavian (compare Norwegian regional ripla , early modern Danish rible , reble , rivle (Danish rible ), all in sense ‘to scratch, score’) < the Scandinavian base of Norwegian regional ripa to scratch, score, to tear off, pluck, Swedish repa , (regional) ripa to scratch, score, to pluck, pull, rip, tear (perhaps < the Germanic base of reap v.¹, and hence perhaps ultimately from the same Indo-European base as rive v.¹) + the Scandinavian base of -le suffix 3. Compare earlier ripple n.² and later ripple n.³, and also later riffle v.Slightly earlier currency is apparently implied by rippling n.² It is unclear whether the following quot. shows an earlier instance of the word (compare earlier rivel v.¹):a1425 Medulla Gram. (Stonyhurst) f. 56^v Rugo, rypple or ryuele. It is also uncertain whether the following use of a form rypple in the sense ‘to trepan’ shows a metaphorical application of this verb:?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 238 Þai bothe rypple [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. crepaneþ, L. trapanant] and lifte vp olde fractures after þat þai passe foure or fyue dayes.Compare also the following for a use of a verbal noun in the same sense:?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 238 It is putte to ham to procede indifferently in alle þe brekynges of the hede, in vncouerynge, rypplinge [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. crepanyng, L. trapanando], and in schauynge and in drawynge out the bones with instrumentes.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps < rip v.¹ + -le suffix (compare -le suffix 3), on account of the rapid movement of the ripples, or perhaps a transferred use of ripple v.² (with reference to the scratched appearance of the surface of water). Earlier currency is probably implied by rippling n.³, rippling adj. Compare later ripple n.⁵