# rapier

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹeɪpˌɪə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #48,443

## Definitions
1. A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless), designed predominantly for thrusting; used during the Renaissance period of Europe for civilian duelling

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French rapiere, from Middle French (espee) rapiere, from Old French rapiere, raspiere, from Spanish raspadera (“poker; raker; scraper”), from Spanish raspar (“to scrape”), of Germanic origin. More at rasp.

## Easily confused with
- **roper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-roper)
- **rarer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-rarer)
- **razer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-razer)
- **rather** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-rather)
- **rapper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-rapper)
- **rapist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-rapist)
- **raping** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-raping)
- **reaper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-reaper)
- **ripper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-ripper)
- **raptor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-raptor)
- **raster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-raster)
- **rape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rape-vs-rapier)
- **rapid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapid-vs-rapier)
- **racer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racer-vs-rapier)
- **ranger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ranger-vs-rapier)
- **raider** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raider-vs-rapier)
- **rabies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rabies-vs-rapier)
- **raiser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raiser-vs-rapier)
- **Rainer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rainer-vs-rapier)
- **rafter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rafter-vs-rapier)

## Common misspellings (8)
`arpier`, `raiper`, `rapeir`, `rapierr`, `rapire`, `rappier`, `rpaier`, `rrapier`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rapier