reaper

[ ree-per ]

noun

1. a machine for cutting standing grain; reaping machine.
2. a person who reaps.
3. Grim Reaper.

reaper

/ ˈriːpə /

noun

1. a person who reaps or a machine for reaping
2. the grim reaper
   the grim reaper death

Word History and Origins

Origin of reaper¹

before 1000; Middle English reper, Old English ripere. See reap, -er ¹

Example Sentences

A cartoon on FreedomWorks’ website shows the grim reaper, with an IRS briefcase in one hand and a scythe in the other, stalking a businessman at a bus stop.

From ProPublica

He’s the Slim Reaper, dealing death blows to opponents whenever the Nets use him at the 5.

From FiveThirtyEight

Reapers, building on that experience, were armed from the start.

From Popular-Science

And, unlike any of the other software, there are versions of Reaper for Mac, Windows, and Linux, the world’s most-used open-source operating system for desktop computers.

From Popular-Science

Reapers require human pilots at remote consoles for the entire time they are in operation.

From Popular-Science

The Air Force has enough MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

From The Daily Beast

Part Grim Reaper, part angel, this deathly saint had few followers, and they mostly worshipped in private.

From The Daily Beast

One of those is Neal Blue, the co-owner and CEO of General Atomics, the company that makes the Predator and Reaper drones.

From The Daily Beast

Our feeble attempts to push back the Grim Reaper only sharpen its cruel bite, not dull it.

From The Daily Beast

George “The Reaper” Foyet (“Omnivore”)  “The Reaper” made for perhaps the most emotionally draining episode of Criminal Minds yet.

From The Daily Beast

The development of the self-binding reaper on our western grain-fields has opened a gold mine for Sisal cordage.

From Project Gutenberg

The old childish love for her mother had revived in all its force, during this long fight with the reaper of souls.

From Project Gutenberg

The reaper must leave something for the gleaner; even the ox cannot be muzzled as he treadeth out the corn.

From Project Gutenberg

In the following year came Stephenson's steam whistle; and in the year following came the McCormick reaper.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon as thought of, he unsheathed his hunting-knife, and set to cutting the grass, as reaper with “hook and crook.”

From Project Gutenberg