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reaper
reaper early farm machine drawn by draft animals or tractor and used to harvest grain. Its historical predecessors were the sickle and the cradle scythe, which are still used in some parts of the world. The earliest known reaper using animal power was described by Pliny the Elder as used in Gaul. It was pushed by an ox and consisted of a box on two wheels with a comb projecting from the front of the box. The heads of the grain were torn off by the comb and fell into the box. Modern attempts to make reaping machines began in England, where the first patent was issued (1799). The first reaper to win general acceptance was made by American inventor Cyrus McCormick in 1831. The grain cut by this reaper fell on a platform, from which it was raked by a person walking beside the machine. A number of improved reapers were developed later. The combine , which threshes the grain as it is reaped, has virtually replaced the reaper, although a self-raking type is still in limited use. The mower , used for cutting hay, was developed from the reaper in the 19th cent.
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Cite this article
"reaper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reaper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-reaper.html "reaper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-reaper.html |
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reaper
reap·er / ˈrēpər/ • n. a person or machine that harvests a crop. ∎ ( the Reaper) short for Grim Reaper. |
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Cite this article
"reaper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reaper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-reaper.html "reaper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-reaper.html |
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reaper
reaper •clapper, crapper, dapper, flapper, grappa, kappa, knapper, mapper, nappa, napper, rapper, sapper, scrapper, snapper, strapper, tapper, trapper, wrapper, yapper, Zappa
•catalpa, scalper
•camper, damper, hamper, pamper, scamper, stamper, Tampa, tamper, tramper
•Caspar, jasper
•handicapper • kidnapper
•whippersnapper
•carper, harper, scarper, sharper
•clasper, gasper, grasper, rasper
•leper, pepper, salt-and-pepper
•helper, yelper
•temper
•Vespa, vesper
•Culpeper • sidestepper
•caper, draper, escaper, gaper, paper, raper, scraper, shaper, taper, vapour (US vapor)
•sandpaper • endpaper • flypaper
•wallpaper • notepaper • newspaper
•skyscraper
•Arequipa, beeper, bleeper, creeper, Dnieper, keeper, leaper, peeper, reaper, sleeper, sweeper, weeper
•gamekeeper • gatekeeper
•greenkeeper (US greenskeeper)
•peacekeeper • innkeeper
•wicketkeeper • timekeeper
•shopkeeper • storekeeper
•housekeeper • goalkeeper
•zookeeper • bookkeeper • treecreeper
•minesweeper
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Cite this article
"reaper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reaper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-reaper.html "reaper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-reaper.html |
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![Grim Reaper [1987]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U219eUIZ7Qo/0.jpg "Grim Reaper [1987]")
