Rap
/ræp/noun
To strike sharply with a quick blow or knock, or a style of rhythmic speech set to music.
Did you know?The music sense of rap comes from earlier slang meaning “to speak” or “chat,” while the older verb goes back to Germanic roots meaning a sudden strike or blow.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reip-
“to strike, hit, or tear”
Old Norse
ON
hrapa
“to rush, hurry, or fall headlong”
Middle English
English
rappe
“a quick blow; to strike sharply”
16th Century
English
rap
“to strike or knock with a sharp sound”
20th Century
English
rap
“to talk or speak; later, rhythmic spoken delivery set to music”