DCHP-2

ripple † DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

• 1 n.

  an obstruction in a watercourse, as a shallows, rapids, or sandbar.

  See also: riffle ((n.)) (def. 1a)  

  • 1811  (1950)  . . . no strong Rapids but many Ripples.
  • 1827  (1829)  These rifts, as they are called, otherwise small ripples, continue about a mile.
  • 1933  By the ripple rapid, water has flowed over the snow and made a smooth rink. . . .

• 2 n.

  a stretch of ruffled water caused by such an obstruction; the place where such an obstruction is.

  See also: riffle ((n.)) (def. 1b)  

  • 1916  In the gravel-bottomed ripple, the water was too swift, too deep, for an overbalanced boy to regain his feet. . . .