Rivel

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. To break apart or split something into fragments or pieces ; to separate or rive something by force or effort ; to tear or rend material or objects along natural lines or seams
2. To cause something to crack or break apart into sections ; to divide or split by physical force ; to rip or open along a fault or weakened area
3. To sever or divide something through tearing or cutting ; to pull apart forcefully or separate along inherent divisions ; to damage or fracture by splitting into parts

Etymology: Its oldest recorded sense had nothing to do with splitting. Old English "rifelan" meant "to wrinkle," a frequentative verb (one expressing repeated or continued action) built on a Germanic root meaning to wrap, wind, roll, or twist. The image of coiling and creasing gradually gave way to something tearing along its folds, which is the sense the verb keeps today. The modern form comes from Middle English "rivelen," which combines "rive," meaning to split or tear, with the frequentative suffix "-el." Old Norse had a related verb, "rifja," meaning to rake hay into rows or furrows. The American usage is probably borrowed from Pennsylvania German, which took it from Palatine Rhine Franconian dialect forms such as "Riwwel" and "Ribbel."