rasp.
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.
Meaning & usage
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
A group of guinea fowl
Where this word comes from
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).
To use a rasp.
To make a noise similar to the one a rasp makes in use; to utter rasps.
To say in a raspy voice.
To work something with a rasp.
to rasp wood to make it smooth
to rasp bones to powder
To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language.
Some sounds rasp the ear.
His insults rasped my temper.
Where this word comes from
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).
The raspberry.
Where this word comes from
Probably from earlier raspis (“raspberry”), mistaken as a plural. Further origin unknown.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.