Etymology

Agent n. formed on dreped; cp. OIcel -drepari.

PGmc Ancestor

*drepan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

drepa ‘to strike a (violent) blow, knock down, deliver (a fatal) blow; kill, destroy, slaughter (etc.)’; cp. -drepari
(ONP drepa (vb.); -drepari (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far droypa, Icel drepa, Norw drøypa, Sw dröpa

OE Cognate

drepan 'to strike'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

CCC3c

Attestation

This is the only attested occurrence of the agent n. in English.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 3422

MED drēper (n.), OED drepe (v.), Dance dreped, Bj. 86, 234–5, de Vries drepa, Mag. drepa, Bj-L. drepe, Seebold drep-a-, Orel *ðrepanan, Kroonen *drepan-, AEW drepan, DOE drepan

Bibliography