rimple

Meanings

nounrimple (plural rimples)

A wrinkle.First known use 10th c.

verbrimple (third-person singular simple present rimples, present participle rimpling, simple past and past participle rimpled)

present singular third person rimples · participle present rimpling · participle past rimpled · past rimpled

USTo wrinkle or crease.First known use 15th c.
He smiled vaguely upon his hostess, and she smiled back at him, her face rimpling into a thousand furrows […]
1975, Georgette Heyer, My Lord John
1 more example
The evening was fine, and the air so still, that it scarcely waved the light leaves of the trees around, or rimpled the broad expanse of the waters below.
1791, Ann Radcliffe, The Romance of the Forest, Penguin, published 1999, page 261

Origin

Proto-Germanic*hrimpaną“to bend, curve, make waves, wrinkle”
Proto-Germanic*hrumpiljǭ
Old English*hrimpele
Middle Englishrimpel
Englishrimple

From Middle English rimpel, rympyl, from Old English *hrimpele, hrympelle (“wrinkle, rimple”), from Proto-Germanic *hrumpiljǭ, related to Old English ġehrimpan (“to wrinkle, rimple”), from Proto-Germanic *hrimpaną (“to bend, curve, make waves, wrinkle”).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic

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