Something that rips something else.
"The ripper loaded crates of fresh oysters onto his wagon before heading toward the bustling market in the valley town."
One who brings fish from the seacoast to markets in inland towns.
In plain English: A ripper is someone who breaks into places to steal things, often leaving damage behind.
"The new roller coaster is such a ripper that everyone in line was smiling before they even got on."
Usage: In modern English, ripper is primarily an informal adjective meaning "excellent" or "fantastic," often used colloquially rather than as a noun describing someone who brings fish to market. Use it casually to praise something impressive, such as calling a movie a total ripper, but avoid using the archaic occupational sense in everyday conversation.
Very good; excellent; fantastic.
"That new car is an absolute ripper, handling every turn on the track with incredible precision."
In plain English: A ripper is something that causes extreme damage or destruction very quickly and easily.
"The new pair of jeans is such a ripper, they look amazing on everyone in my family!"
A surname.
"The Ripper case remains one of history's most infamous unsolved mysteries."
The word ripper is a compound formed by adding the suffix -er to the verb rip, first appearing between 1605 and 1615. It originally described someone or something that performs the action of ripping.