Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps < ramp v.¹ (although the closest semantic parallel at that entry, ramp v.¹ 5a, is first attested later, but compare earlier ramp v.¹ 3), perhaps originally influenced by Anglo-Norman ramponer, Anglo-Norman and Middle French ramponner, ramposner to rail in an insulting manner (c1140 in Anglo-Norman as ramponer; French ramponner).The French verb is etymologically unrelated to ramp v.¹ It arose by dissimilation of the medial -r- in Anglo-Norman and Old French ramprosner , ranprosner in same sense (although this is apparently first attested slightly later: c1160) < re- re- prefix + an- , am- im- prefix¹ + prosne prone n. Compare also quot. 1530 at ramp v.¹ 5a, where Palsgrave uses ramp v.¹ to gloss Middle French ramponner . Perhaps the French word was identified with ramp v.¹ on account of its partial phonetic similarity. Compare ramping adj. 2 and discussion at that entry.

Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < post-classical Latin rampnus (c1150 in British sources), variant (with epenthetic -p- ) of classical Latin rhamnos rhamnus n., if the plant in question is the buckthorn (as suggested by E. R. Harvey in her 1984 edition of the source cited in quot.), or perhaps < ramp v.¹ (compare ramp v.¹ 2), if it is some climbing plant. Perhaps compare French regional rampe denoting various climbing plants, e.g. ivy and clematis (although this is apparently only recorded considerably later (19th cent.): see Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch at rampa).

Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < ramp v.¹ (compare ramp v.¹ 1), with reference to the erect appearance of the plant's spadix.

Etymology: < ramp v.¹ Compare earlier ramping n.¹ With sense 2 compare later romp n., and see discussion at that entry.

Etymology: < French rampe inclined plane to which the stairs of a staircase are fixed (1584 in Middle French), inclined plane connecting two different levels in a garden, a fortification, etc. (1679), stair rail (1690), sloping ground in general (1767), movable slope used to replace derailed rolling stock on to the track (1904) < ramper ramp v.¹ The French word was also borrowed into many other European languages; compare Spanish rampa, Portuguese rampa (both late 18th cent.), Italian rampa (first half of the 19th cent.), and also German Rampe (1726), Swedish rampa (1691 as †rempe), Danish rampe (a1719).

Etymology: < ramp v.³ With the spec. use denoting a person who commits such a crime, compare ramper n.²

Etymology: Inferred singular of ramps n.¹ With sense 1 compare earlier rams n., ramsey n., ramsons n.

Etymology: Probably < ramp v.³ (compare ramp v.³ 2). Compare later ramp v.⁵ 1, ramping n.³

Etymology: Probably an alteration of rank adj. after ramp v.¹ With sense 1 perhaps also compare earlier rammish adj.² 1.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman ramper, rampir, raumper, ranper and Middle French, French ramper to creep or crawl on the ground (first half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman with reference to reptiles, originally in present participle rampant , second half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman with reference to a cripple), (of an animal) to rear or stand on the hind legs (c1200, originally and chiefly in present participle rampant : see rampant adj.), to climb, to scramble (end of the 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman) < an ablaut variant of the base of the Germanic words cited at rimple n. Compare Italian rampare to climb up (1598 in Florio; now rare), (of an animal) to rear or stand on the hind legs (1611 in Florio; probably < French). With the semantic development compare rampant adj. and discussion at that entry. Sense 5a is probably influenced by ramping adj. 2 and ramp n.¹ (compare discussion at that entry). With sense 5b compare later romp v.In β. forms after Anglo-Norman ranper. Some northern English and Older Scots examples of the present participle in -and , -ande , -aund could alternatively be interpreted as showing rampant adj.

Etymology: Imitative. Perhaps compare Scots (chiefly east central and north-eastern) ramsh to munch (recorded by Sc. National Dict. from the early 19th cent. onwards; also ransh, runsh).

Etymology: Origin uncertain. In sense 1 perhaps arising from a misapprehension of ramp v.¹; compare the notes concerning early translations of classical Latin rapiēns and rapāx at rampant adj., ramping adj., and also quots. 1570, 1626. Senses 2 and 3 may show a different word. With sense 3 compare ramp (noun) search of a prisoner or cell (Australian slang, 1919, rare). Compare ramp n.⁸

Etymology: < ramp n.⁵ With sense 1 compare French ramper (of a path, stairway, etc.) to follow a slope (1701; now rare; spec. use of ramper ramp v.¹, probably influenced by rampe ramp n.⁵).

Etymology: < ramp n.⁸ In sense 2 probably influenced by association with ramp n.⁵ (the underlying image being that of a ramp as something used to ascend from one level to another) and perhaps also with ramp v.¹