ramp English · revision 16162

+ English ''ramp'', a slope, and ''ramp'', to rear up or rage, both come from [[fr|ramper|t=to climb]], but entered English separately, centuries apart.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Ayto 2005)^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹæmp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|slope}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1725|origins=frk *rampōn}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The slope is [[bor|fr|rampe]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) a back-formation from [[m|fr|ramper|t=to climb, slope]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) itself from [[frk|*rampōn]].^(Ayto 2005)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The difference in level between the supports of an arch: 1725;^(Barnhart 1988) a sloping way, 1778.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In architecture it also names a sloping part of a parapet or handrail.^(MWU 2024) The road that leads on to or off a major highway is an American use of 1952,^(Etymonline) and a movable stairway for boarding an aircraft is another later sense.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1725 – a difference in level in an arch.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1778 – a sloping way.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – a road on or off a highway (US).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sloping surface or path joining two different levels.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A movable stairway for boarding or leaving an [[aircraft]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A road leading on to or off a [[highway]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ {{homograph|2|to rear up, rage}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325, Cursor Mundi|origins=frk *rampōn}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|rampen]] (also [[m|enm|raumpen]]), [[bor|fro|ramper|t=to creep, climb, rear]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026) of Germanic origin,^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024) compare [[gml|ramp|t=cramp]] and [[goh|rimpfan|t=to wrinkle]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Its present participle gave ''[[rampant]]''.^(Ayto 2005)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Standing on the hind legs, rearing, mostly as the participle ''rampand'': before 1325, in ''Cursor Mundi'';^(Barnhart 1988) the OED's first example of the verb, of a lion, is from about 1390.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ French ''ramper'' meant to creep or crawl, a sense rarely found in English (Gower, 1393).^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) From rearing like a beast in heraldry came raging or storming about in a threatening way, from about 1405 in Chaucer,^(OED 2026) and bounding about wildly (1599).^(OED 2026) Climbing or scrambling (1523) and of plants, climbing or growing luxuriantly (1578, 1607) are other senses, now mostly regional.^(OED 2026) A ''ramp'' was also a bold, boisterous girl from the 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) related to ''[[romp]]''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – ''rampand'', rearing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1390 – of a lion, to rear up.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1405 – to rage or storm.^(OED 2026)

+ * mid 15th century – a boisterous woman (noun).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – of a ship, to scud along.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To rear up on the hind legs, as in [[heraldry]]; to be [[rampant]].^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # To rush or storm about in a threatening or excited way.^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rampage]]

+ * [[rampant]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Ramps'', a wild leek of North America, is a variant of ''rams'', from Middle English ''ramse'', from Old English ''hramsa'', the source of ''[[ramsons]]''.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024) In British slang a ''ramp'' is a swindle, especially one involving exorbitant prices.^(Collins 2023) In northern English dialect it was also a sprain.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}