reaper

From Middle English reper, repare, repere, *riper (the last, attested only in surnames Ryper, Riper, etc.), from Old English rīpere (“reaper”), equivalent to reap +‎ -er.

• (American English) IPA^(key): /ˈɹiːpɚ/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -iːpə(ɹ)

reaper (plural reapers)

1. One who reaps; a person employed to harvest crops from the fields by reaping.
   • 1913, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Poison Belt‎:

     Even as we looked some rumour seemed to have spread, for we saw the reapers hurrying from the fields.

2. A machine used to harvest crops.
3. (often with initial capital) Short for Grim Reaper.
   • 1976, Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult), "Don't Fear the Reaper" (song)

     Don't fear the Reaper / We'll be able to fly

   • 1999, Karl S. Guthke, The Gender of Death: A Cultural History in Art and Literature (page 7)

     Why is the Grim Reaper a man? True, the noun ending would theoretically allow us to visualize the reaper as a woman as well, but we don't.

4. The recluse spider (Loxosceles and Sicarius spp.).

• Grim Reaper

• reap

• Pearre, Perera, rerape