/rip"euhr/ , n.
1. a person or thing that rips.
2. Also, ripper bill, ripper act . a legislative bill or act for taking powers of appointment to and removal from office away from the usual holders of these powers and conferring them unrestrictedly on a chief executive, as a governor or mayor, or on a board of officials.
3. a double-ripper.
4. a killer who dispatches and often mutilates victims with a knife or similar weapon.
5. Mining. a hooklike tool, attached to earth-moving machinery, for tearing away ore, rock, etc.
6. Chiefly Brit. Slang. something especially strong, fine, or good of its kind.
[ 1605-15; RIP 1 + -ER 1 ]