An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Rappe

by Friedrich Kluge

Rappe (1.), m., ‘black horse,’ ModHG. only in this sense, which is a figurative use of MidHG. rappe, ‘raven,’ the variant of MidHG. rabe (Alem. rap, ‘raven’). OHG. *rappo is wanting; it would be related to rabo like *knappo, ‘squire,’ to knabo, ‘boy.’ See Rappen.

Rappe (2.), f., ‘malanders,’ from MidHG. rappe, rapfe, f., ‘itch, scab’; allied to Du. rappig, ‘scabby.’ The root is seen in OHG. rapfen, ‘to harden (of wounds), form a scab,’ and in râffi. From HG. the equiv. Fr. râpes, pl., is formed.

Rappe (3.), f., ‘rasp,’ ModHG. only, from the equiv. Fr. râpe, which again corresponds to OHG. raspôn, ‘to sweep off,’ MidHG. raspeln. See raffen, Rapp, and Raspe.