ripping chisel (riping chiz"el)

In wood working, a bent chisel used in clearing out mortises, or for ripping the old oakum out of seams which need calking. = state of being ripe, in any sense. In man, the ripene of strength of the body and mind cometh much about an age. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 16. Thou gav'st that ripene which so soon began, And ceased so soon, he ne'er was boy nor man. To ripene , that on which it throve Falls off, and love is left alone. Tennyson, To J. S.