Where does “riffle” come from?

Riffle comes from Middle English rifflen, from Old Norse hrufla, meaning to wrinkle or curl.

riffle (English): A swift, shallow part of a stream causing broken...

Definitions

  1. A swift, shallow part of a stream causing broken...

Ancestry of “riffle”, step by step

riffle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ruffle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishruffleAny gathered or curled strip of fabric added as...
2Middle Englishruffelen—
3Old Norsehruflato graze, scratch

via Danish rifle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishrifle—

Words derived from “riffle”

Every word from Old Norse hrufla →Every word from Middle English ruffelen →Every word from English ruffle →