Etymology From Middle English riban, ryban, ryband, from Old French riban, ruban ( > modern French ruban), of uncertain origin. Likely from a Germanic compound whose second element is cognate with English band. Compare Middle Dutch ringhband (“necklace”, literally “ring-band”).
A long, narrow strip of material used for decoration of clothing or the hair or gift wrapping.
A Svveet diſorder in the dreſſe / Kindles in cloathes a vvantonneſſe: / […] / A Cuffe neglectfull, and thereby / Ribbands to flovv confuſedly: / […] / Do more bevvitch me, than vvhen Art / Is too preciſe in every part.1648, Robert Herrick, “Delight in Disorder”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 29:
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An awareness ribbon.
With Monday marking the beginning of October’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month observance, supporters will be donning their pink ribbons as a show of support for ongoing research for a cure.2018 October 1, Olivia B. Waxman, “Wearing a Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness? Here's How Awareness Ribbons Became a Thing”, in Time:
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An inked strip of material against which type is pressed to print letters in a typewriter or printer.
Late at night, in the typewriter light / Ripped his ribbon to shreds1989, Paul Heaton, Dave Rotheray, “Song for Whoever”, performed by The Beautiful South:
They were single-shift, frontstroke, typebar typewriters with four-bank QWERTY keyboards, inked by a ribbon.2018, Mark J. P. Wolf, The Routledge Companion to Media Technology and Obsolescence:
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A narrow strip or shred.
a steel or magnesium ribbon
sails torn to ribbons
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Cooking, Food, Lifestyle In ice cream and similar confections, an ingredient (often chocolate, butterscotch, caramel, or fudge) added in a long narrow strip.
"Here, sir, hold the ribbons." This to me, throwing me the reins. Jack got down from his perch, and after a little search in the bush was rewarded by the capture of the poor dazed pigeon, who was consigned to safe custody in the boot.1887, James Inglis, Our New Zealand Cousins:
Office programs are drowning in features—and they're crammed into so many different nooks and crannies that even pros don't know where to look. That's where the new ribbon fits in.2007, Chris Grover, Matthew MacDonald, E. A. Vander Veer, Office 2007: The Missing Manual, page 586:
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An apparatus with a handle and a long narrow strip of fabric.
Etymology From Middle English riban, ryban, ryband, from Old French riban, ruban ( > modern French ruban), of uncertain origin. Likely from a Germanic compound whose second element is cognate with English band. Compare Middle Dutch ringhband (“necklace”, literally “ring-band”).