/rah"peuhn/ , n. , pl. rappen .
a bronze coin and monetary unit of Switzerland; centime.
[ 1830-40; rappen a type of coin first minted in Alsace, lit., raven (a jocular reference to the eagle on the coin), declensional var. of MHG rappe, a by-form of raben, OHG hraban; see RAVEN 1 ]