Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rapier

/ˈɹeɪpˌɪə(ɹ)/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.58 in modern English

Syllables: rapi-er
IPA: /ˈɹeɪpˌɪə(ɹ)/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless), designed predominantly for thrusting; used during the Renaissance period of Europe for civilian duelling

adj

Extremely sharp.

adj

Cutting; employing keen wit.

adj

comparative form of rapey: more rapey

name

Example Sentences

"[…] In his lawless fit, Behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries ‘A rat, a rat!’ And in this brainish apprehension kills The unseen good old man."
"The man beside him with the earrings and the big black case proceeded to unlock it. He took out of it two long Italian rapiers, with splendid steel hilts and blades, which he planted point downwards in the lawn."
"John is very quick on his feet during interviews by using his rapier responses."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French rapiere, from Middle French (espee) rapiere, from Old French rapiere, raspiere, from Spanish raspadera (“poker; raker; scraper”), from Spanish raspar (“to scrape”), of Germanic origin. More at rasp.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: (espee) rapiere, rapiere, raspadera, raspar

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈɹeɪpˌɪə(ɹ)/

Inflected Forms

rapiers (plural)

Derived Forms

rapiered rapierlike

Phrases

rapier-fish

Synonyms

tuck

Rhymes With

napier lapier

Questions

How do you pronounce rapier?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹeɪpˌɪə(ɹ)/.
What does rapier mean?: A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless), designed predominantly for thrusting; used during the Renaissance period of Europe for civilian duelling
Where does rapier come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce rapier

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