rasp

name

1. Abbreviation of Royalty and Specialist Protection.

noun

Etymology: Probably from earlier raspis (“raspberry”), mistaken as a plural. Further origin unknown.

1. The raspberry.

   “Set sorrel amongst rasps, and the rasps will be smaller.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English raspen, from Old French rasper, from Frankish *hraspōn, from Proto-Germanic *hraspōną, related to Proto-Germanic *hrespaną (“to tear”). Compare Old High German raspōn (“to gather, rake”), Old English ġehrespan (“to tear”). The noun is from Middle French raspe.

1. To use a rasp.
2. To make a noise similar to the one a rasp makes in use; to utter rasps.
3. 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.”

4. To work something with a rasp.

   “to rasp wood to make it smooth”

   “to rasp bones to powder”

5. To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language.

   “Some sounds rasp the ear.”

   “His insults rasped my temper.”