Etymology

Compound formed on ryfte (n.).

PGmc Ancestor

*rīfan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

ript 'withdrawal, breach of contract'
(ONP rift (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Norw rift, Dan rift, Sw rift

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

B2c

Attestation

This appears to be a unique compound (see 'rain-rift' in OED3 s.v. rain n.1), but see the entry for ryfte (n.).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 368

This compound describes the break through which rain pours, and Menner and GollCl thus read it as a break in the clouds, while Anderson argues that it actual refers to (gaps in) the flood-gates of heaven in Genesis vii.11 (cataractae).

Bibliography

MED rift(e (n.1) , OED3 rift (n.2) , HTOED , de Vries ript (2), Orel *riftiz, *rīfanan, Kroonen *rīfan- ~ *rīpan-, AEW ripan, riopan