(Sometimes RIPPLE). A small “rapid”; a place where the current flows swiftly over submerged rocks or trees or sand-bars.
1796. These places … are called by the inhabitants “Riffles;” I suppose, a corruption of the word “ruffle,” as the water is violently agitated in those parts.—Fra. Baily, F.R.S., ‘Journal of a Tour’ (Lond., 1856), p. 149. (N.E.D.)
1806. In some of the ripples, the water runs at the rate of ten miles an hour; and a boat will go at the rate of twelve without any other assistance than the steering oar.—Thomas Ashe, ‘Travels in America,’ i. 92 (Lond., 1808). Also p. 173.
1814. This ripple, like all others on the Missouri, is formed by high sand bars, over which the water is precipitated, with considerable noise.—H. M. Brackenridge, ‘Journal,’ p. 215.
1824. The grounding of the Paragon on the rocky riffle at Sandy Island, and detention of the Mayesville,… shew the amount of that obstruction.—Cincinn. Emporium, Feb. 26, p. 3/2.
1826. You hear of the danger of “riffles,” meaning probably, ripples, and planters, and sawyers, and points, and bends, and shoots, a corruption, I suppose, of the French “chute.”—T. Flint, ‘Recollections,’ p. 15.
1843. Ripples are often indices of an ascending sawyer, and also of shoals, as one approaches islands wholly or partially submerged.—B. R. Hall (‘Robert Carlton’), ‘The New Purchase,’ i. 50. (Italics in the original.)
1843. [Captain Guion] says there are six rapids or “ripples” in the first hundred miles, in ascending from the mouth [of the Des Moines river]…. Slight rapids, termed by the boatmen ripples.—Mr. Edwards of Missouri, House of Repr., July 20: Cong. Globe, p. 243, App.
1851. Strike down thar [in the river], outside that little riffle—and now cut right into the smooth water and come across!—J. J. Hooper, ‘Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs,’ &c., p. 154.
1878. The two streams, the clear and the muddy, run side by side for nearly twenty miles, when a series of riffles and sharp turns mingles them freely in a fluid of pale orange tint.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,’ p. 206.
1888. They ran across some pretty rapid riffles in the river of life.—Chicago Inter-Ocean, March 7 (Farmer).
