Ripper

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɪpə/

Definitions

1. Someone or something that forcefully tears or splits material ; a notorious killer known specifically by that violent nickname ; a device used to cut or open items with force
2. An agent that pulls apart or tears objects ; a famous murderer distinguished by a certain title ; an instrument designed to slice or tear through materials
3. A person or object that causes ripping or tearing damage ; an executioner identified by a famous historical name ; a mechanical or hand tool employed for cutting or prying open

Etymology: The word itself is simple: "rip" with the agent suffix "-er," meaning one that does the action. The verb "rip" arrived in English in the Middle Ages, probably from Middle English "ryppen" and "rippen," and its roots reach back to a Germanic form meaning to snatch or tear away. The agent ending "-er" came into English through Old French from Latin "-arius," and it was attached to native English verbs for centuries, so "ripper" is a plain English formation. The word was formed in English between 1605 and 1615, when "rip" was already a common verb. Its earliest senses were literal: something that tears or cuts, a tool for opening things, or a person who tears things apart. Its most famous use is the nickname given to an unidentified murderer in London in 1888, which turned the everyday word into a byword for a killer.

Synonyms: slasher, killer, murderer, butcher, assassin