rev

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɹɛv/ (UK)^[1]

Etymology

It is a shortening of revolution, of an engine or motor.^[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A revolution of an engine: 1901 in Barnhart, the OED and Etymonline;^[3][6][2] about 1890 in MWU.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The rev-counter is from 1917.^[6] The verb, to make an engine run fast, especially when not in gear, is from 1916 in Etymonline, 1918 in MWU and 1920 in the OED and Barnhart,^[2][4][6][3] and of the engine itself running quickly from 1923.^[6] Revved-up, figuratively excited, is from 1931.^[6] To make livelier or more productive, rev up, is a further figurative sense.^[7]

Timeline

• 1901 – a revolution of an engine.^[3]
• 1916 – the verb.^[2]
• 1917 – rev-counter.^[6]
• 1931 – revved-up.^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. (informal) A revolution of an engine, or (revs) revolutions per minute.

Verb

1. To increase the speed of an engine.
2. (rev up) To make livelier, or to accelerate.

Related words

• revolution
• revolve

Usage notes

Rev. with a capital is also the abbreviation of Reverend and of the book of Revelation.^[8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins