Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rasp?

\Rasp\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rasped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Rasping}.] [OF. rasper, F. r[^a]per, to scrape, grate, rasp, fr. OHG. rasp[=o]n to scrape together, to collect, probably akin to E. rap. Cf. {Rap} to snatch.] 1. To rub or file with a rasp; to rub or grate with a rough file; as, to rasp wood to make it smooth; to rasp bones to powder. 2. Hence, figuratively: To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language; as, some sounds rasp the ear; his insults rasped my temper.
\Rasp\, n. [OE. raspe, OF. raspe, F. r[^a]pe. See {Rasp}, v.] 1. A coarse file, on which the cutting prominences are distinct points raised by the oblique stroke of a sharp punch, instead of lines raised by a chisel, as on the true file. 2. The raspberry. [Obs.] ``Set sorrel amongst rasps, and the rasps will be smaller.'' --Bacon. {Rasp palm} (Bot.), a Brazilian palm tree ({Iriartea exorhiza}) which has strong a["e]rial roots like a screw pine. The roots have a hard, rough surface, and are used by the natives for graters and rasps, whence the common name.