I. ˈripə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: rip (II) + -er
1. : a worker who rips: as
a. : one who opens seams to prepare them for resewing
b. : an operator of a ripsaw or variety saw
c. : a member of a fish-dressing gang who opens the belly of fish and removes the viscera
2. : a tool, device, or machine that rips: as
a. : a long bar or thin steel blade used to remove damaged roofing slates and notched for drawing nails
b. : a device for opening stitched seams in cloth
c. : ripsaw
d. : a machine with revolvable knives for cutting millboard
e. : a road machine to break up worn or disintegrated pavement
f. : a subsoiler or chisel implement that loosens surface soil and subsoil
3. : any of the larger blocks on which the first few drawings are effected in wiredrawing
4.
a. : an excellent example or instance of a kind : humdinger
a ripper — American musical comedy in the highest gear — Newsweek
b. : a wild or reckless person
5. chiefly New England : bobsled I 2
6. : a madman or criminal who slashes his victims with a knife
II. adjective
: designed to make drastic changes in a governmental agency for purely partisan purposes
ripper legislation
ripper bill
ripper amendment