rappen

[rah-puhn]

noun

plural

rappen 

1. a bronze coin and monetary unit of Switzerland; centime.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rappen¹

1830–40; < Swiss German; late Middle High German rappen a type of coin first minted in Alsace, literally, raven (a jocular reference to the eagle on the coin), declensional variant of Middle High German rappe, a by-form of raben, Old High German hraban; raven ¹

Example Sentences

On the little Zurich and Baden Railway, the only one yet in Switzerland, our traveller meets again with his old acquaintance the franc; but this is worth 14-1/2d., instead of 9-1/2d., and, moreover, it is divided into ten batzen, each of which is worth ten rappen.

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The thirty-third cut thus describes them; the German and the version being as follow; "Hie furt man die mord vo danne un wil schleisse vn redern die rappen volget alle zit hin nach vn stechet sy."

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