An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/raffen

by Friedrich Kluge

raffen, vb., ‘to snatch, carry off suddenly,’ from MidHG. raffen, OHG. *raffôn (by chance not recorded), ‘to pluck, pull out, snatch away’; corresponding to LG. and Du. rapen, ‘to gather hastily.’ E. to raff is derived from Fr. raffer, which, like Ital. arraffare, is borrowed from HG.; on the other hand, E. to rap is primit. allied to HG. raffen. MidHG. raspôn (for rafspôn), MidHG. raspen, ‘to collect hastily,’ and Ital. arrappare, ‘to carry off,’ are also connected with the Teut. root hrap.