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Re: Riffs, riff-raff - an idle seguePosted by Word Camel on February 05, 2002 In Reply to: Riffs, riff-raff - an idle segue posted by The Fallen on February 05, 2002 : I thought I'd just posted this... but it's early and maybe I didn't... so here goes again. : Speaking of Led Zeppelin , what's the origin of "riff" as in a guitar riff? Although I am sure it's a fairly modern term, does it have any connection with "riff-raff"... and since I'm on this train of thought, what's the origin of "riff-raff" too? I'm more than certain that neither has the slightest to do with any indigenous tribes within Morocco. From The American Heritage Dictionary (sadly the only dictionary I have): riff: music. A short rhythmic phrase repeated constantly. [Probably shortend variant of REFRAIN] Also from the same dictionary - a few lines down; riff-raff 1. Worthless or disreputable persons 2. Rubbish; trash [Middle English riffe, raffe, rif and raf, one and all, from the Old French rif et raf: rifler to file + raffe, a sweeping. from Middle High German raffen, to snatch.] Oh for italics and bold ... fondly, Camel
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