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Definition of ribble

ribble

/ˈrɪb.əl/
rib · ble
Plural:ribbles
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ribble Lexical Profile

• noun

1

British A significant river in North West England that rises in North Yorkshire and flows westward through Lancashire, ultimately emptying into the Irish Sea.

2

British A slight wrinkle, ripple, or furrow on a surface.

Example

"The tailor carefully ironed out a small ribble in the linen fabric before cutting the pattern."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ribble

• Rhymes for ribble

• Nearby Words

rhubarb
rhus
rhynchospora
ribble
ribbon
ribbon eel
ribbon falls

Word Origin & Etymology

The name of the river likely derives from a Celtic source, possibly meaning 'tearing river' or 'great boundary'. The dialectal noun for a wrinkle or ripple is of obscure origin, though likely related to the Germanic roots of 'ripple' or 'rib'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ribble. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ribble
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