1630s, "moving or doing quickly, capable of great speed," from French rapide (17c.) and directly from Latin rapidus "hasty, swift; snatching; fierce, impetuous," from rapere "hurry away, carry off, seize, plunder," from PIE root *rep- "to snatch" (source also of Greek ereptomai "devour," harpazein "snatch away," Lithuanian raplės "tongs").

Meaning "happening in a short time, coming quickly into existence" is from 1780. Related: Rapidly; rapidness. Rapid-fire (adj.) 1890 in reference to guns, figurative or transferred use by 1900; the noun phrase is by 1836. Rapid-transit first attested 1852, in reference to street railways; rapid eye movement, associated with a certain phase of sleep, is from 1906.

"act of plundering or theft," especially "act of carrying off (a woman) by force, especially for the purpose of rape," early 14c., verbal noun from ravish (v.).

"desolation or destruction wrought by the violent action of men or beasts," or by time, grief, etc., 1610s, from French ravage "destruction" (14c.), from ravir "to take away hastily" (see ravish). Related: Ravages (by 1771).

"devastate, lay waste, despoil," 1610s, from French ravager "lay waste, devastate," from Old French ravage "destruction," especially by flood (14c.), from ravir "to take away hastily" (see ravish). Related: Ravaged; ravaging.

mid-14c., "ravenous;" late 14c., "enchanting, exciting rapture or ecstasy;" present-participle adjective from ravish (v.). The figurative notion is of "carrying off from earth to heaven." Related: Ravishingly.

mid-15c., "act of carrying off (a woman) by force," especially for the purpose of rape, from Old French ravissement (14c.), from ravir "to seize, take away hastily" (see ravish).