Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-
Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreb /*(s)krebʰ-
Proto-Germanic *hrepsaną /*hrepspaną
Proto-Germanic *hrespaną
Proto-Germanic *hraspōną
Frankish *hraspōnbor.
Vulgar Latin *raspāre
Old French rasperbor.
Middle English raspen
English rasp
Inherited from Middle English raspen (“to scratch, scrape”), borrowed from Old French rasper (“to grate, scratch”), from Vulgar Latin *raspāre (“to scrape; to scratch”), borrowed from Frankish *hraspōn (“to rasp or grate”), from Proto-Germanic *hraspōną (same meaning, plus “to steal”), from *hrespaną (“to tear, rip; to plunder”).
Compare Old High German raspōn (“to gather, rake”), Old English ġehrespan (“to plunder”).
The noun is from Middle French raspe (whence Modern French râpe), deverbal of rasper, from Old French rasper (see above).
Meanings
A coarse file or filelike tool, on which the cutting prominences are distinct points raised by the oblique stroke of a sharp punch, instead of lines raised by a chisel, as on the true file.
The sound made by this tool when used, or any similar sound.
the rasp of her perpetual cough
(collective) A group of guinea fowl
There was a flock - no, a rasp of guinea-fowl feeding in a garden not twenty yards away. 1939, Blackwood's Magazine, volume 945, page 533:
A rasp of guinea fowl honked as 'Emma' the ostrich pecked. 2025, Rory MacLean, Nick Danziger, Back in the USSR:
The rasp of guinea fowl came from a Swiss breeder. (Can we date this quote?), “New cohabitants for the elephants: guinea fowl”, in Basel Zoo:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-
Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreb /*(s)krebʰ-
Proto-Germanic *hrepsaną /*hrepspaną
Proto-Germanic *hrespaną
Proto-Germanic *hraspōną
Frankish *hraspōnbor.
Vulgar Latin *raspāre
Old French rasperbor.
Middle English raspen
English rasp
Inherited from Middle English raspen (“to scratch, scrape”), borrowed from Old French rasper (“to grate, scratch”), from Vulgar Latin *raspāre (“to scrape; to scratch”), borrowed from Frankish *hraspōn (“to rasp or grate”), from Proto-Germanic *hraspōną (same meaning, plus “to steal”), from *hrespaną (“to tear, rip; to plunder”).
Compare Old High German raspōn (“to gather, rake”), Old English ġehrespan (“to plunder”).
The noun is from Middle French raspe (whence Modern French râpe), deverbal of rasper, from Old French rasper (see above).
Meanings
(intransitive) To use a rasp.
(intransitive) To make a noise similar to the one a rasp makes in use; to utter rasps.
To say in a raspy voice.
“No. I am going to feed you to the children,” rasped Burt, his laugh rattling around his throat, prising Dad’s fingers one by one off his apron. 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
(transitive) To work something with a rasp.
to rasp wood to make it smooth
to rasp bones to powder
(ambitransitive, figuratively) To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language.
Some sounds rasp the ear.
His insults rasped my temper.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
rasped
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
rasped
Tense=Past
lexicographic
rasping
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
rasps
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Translations (33)
pt grosar (to work something with a rasp) · ba ҡырыу (to use a rasp) · ru обдира́ть (to use a rasp) · bg остъргвам (to grate or rub roughly) · bg стържа (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · mi kauhoro (to grate or rub roughly) · mi hikahika (to grate or rub roughly) · fi raspata (to use a rasp) · fr râper (to use a rasp) · ru тере́ть (to use a rasp) · fi raspata (to work something with a rasp) · ba игәү (to use a rasp) · fi rahista (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · pt raspar (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · mi ngakeke (to grate or rub roughly) · bg пиля (to use a rasp) · tr törpülemek (to use a rasp) · de raspeln (to use a rasp) · ru опи́ливать (to use a rasp) · pt grosar (to use a rasp) · es escofinar (to use a rasp) · ru скрести́ (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · mi ngākeke (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · oc raspar (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · ota تورپولمك (to use a rasp) · oc raspar (to work something with a rasp) · es raspar (to use a rasp) · cs rašplovat (to use a rasp) · bg изпилявам (to work something with a rasp) · et raspeldama (to work something with a rasp) · sv raspa (to make a noise like that of a rasp) · it scuffinare (to use a rasp) · oc raspar (to use a rasp)
Probably from earlier raspis (“raspberry”), mistaken as a plural. Further origin unknown.
Meanings
(archaic) The raspberry.
Set sorrel amongst rasps, and the rasps will be smaller. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC: