RIPSTAVER NOUN an impressive, exceptional, or first-rate person or thing; something or someone who is exceptionally remarkable in appearance, quality, strength, etc. ...1828 US colloq. ETYMOLOGY from rip (vb. to tear, pull, or cut away from something else forcefully or vigorously) + stave (vb. to break up (a cask) into staves; to break into and let out the contents_ + -er FIRST DOCUMENTED USE 1828 - see EXAMPLE below EXAMPLE "...She beheld him striding down the street, lustily exclaiming to himself, ‘She’s a ripstaver, so help me Davy Rachel!’..." From: The Bower of Taste A Boston magazine edited by Mrs. Katharine A. Ware
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