Jack the Ripper

English

Etymology

September 1888, Jack +‎ the +‎ ripper, from the Dear Boss letter.

Proper noun

Jack the Ripper

1. A supposed individual who was an unidentified 19th century serial killer in England, who has become part of folklore.
   • 1888 September 25, Jack the Ripper, Dear Boss Letter, London, page 2:

     Keep this letter back till I
     do a bit more work. then give
     it out straight. My knife's so nice
     and sharp I want to get to work
     right away if I get a chance.
     Good luck.
     Yours truly
     ⁠Jack the Ripper
     Dont mind me giving the trade name

Translations

19th century murderer

• Arabic: جَاك اَلسَّفَّاح m (jak as-saffāḥ)
• Azerbaijani: İçalatçı Cek
• Basque: Jack Tripa-ateratzailea
• Catalan: Jack l'Esbudellador m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 開膛手傑克／开膛手杰克 (zh) (kāitángshǒu Jiékè)

• Czech: Jack Rozparovač m
• Danish: Jack the Ripper
• Dutch: Jack the Ripper m
• Esperanto: Ĵakvo la Buĉisto
• Estonian: Rappija Jack
• Finnish: Viiltäjä-Jack
• French: Jack l’Éventreur (fr) m
• Georgian: ჯეკ მფატრავი (ǯeḳ mpaṭravi)
• German: Jack der Aufschlitzer m
• Greek: Τζακ ο Αντεροβγάλτης m (Tzak o Anterovgáltis)
• Hindi: please add this translation if you can
• Hungarian: Hasfelmetsző Jack
• Icelandic: Kviðristu Kobbi m
• Irish: Seac an Réabthóir m
• Italian: Jack lo squartatore m
• Japanese: 切り裂きジャック (kirisagi Jakku)
• Latvian: Džeks Uzšķērdējs m
• Macedonian: Џек Ме́восек m (Džek Mévosek)
• Norman: Jacques l'Êbieilleux m
• Polish: Kuba Rozpruwacz m
• Portuguese: Jack, o Estripador m
• Romanian: Jack Spintecătorul m
• Russian: Джек-Потроши́тель m (Džek-Potrošítelʹ)
• Scottish Gaelic: Seoc an Reubainnear m
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Roman: Jack Trbosjek

• Spanish: Jack el Destripador m
• Thai: แจ็กเดอะริปเปอร์ (Jàek-dùh-rípper)
• Turkish: Karındeşen Jack
• Vietnamese: Jack Phanh Thây

Further reading

• “Jack the Ripper”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “Jack the Ripper, pn.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “Jack the Ripper”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “Jack the Ripper” in TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2024.