Strange, how today we are convinced there were five "Ripper" deaths. This belies the behaviour of most serial killers who hone their killing technique.
Our predecessors weren't so certain.
Ripper (Thieves'). Daring murderer of women. Very common noun devised from rip, the ripper making his wound with a knife in the human body. In 1888-91 a number (ten) of murders of women were perpetrated, presumably by the same man, as the ripping treatment of the victims was common to all or almost all the cases. Ware, James Redding.
Passing English of the Victorian era 1909.
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