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rasp

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.

Origin: OF. Rasper, F. Raper, to scrape, grate, rasp, fr. OHG. Raspon to scrape together, to collect, probably akin to E. Rap. Cf. Rap to snatch.

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. Set sorrel amongst rasps, and the rasps will be smaller.

(Science: botany) Rasp palm, a Brazilian palm tree (Iriartea exorhiza) which has strong aerial 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.

Origin: OE. Raspe, OF. Raspe, F. Rape. See Rasp.