Etymology of "ripsnorter"?


Etymonline doesn't expound the etymology, and states no more than:



"something of exceptional strength," 1840, probably from rip (v.) + snort (q.v.).



Does anyone have any more detail on the origins of this word?



Answer



"Ripsnorter" is likely to have originated in the 19th century when such novel words as "rambunctious" and "stemwinder" were considered humorous. They are sometimes cited as evidence of the robust and inventive U.S. culture of the time.


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