A rasp is a woodworking tool used for shaping wood. It consists of a long narrow bar of steel, flat or rounded, usually with a single handle on one end. The bar has had triangular teeth cut into it. Rasps generally cut more coarsely than files. They are useful for rapidly removing wood from curved surfaces. They remove less wood than a drawknife, so they are easier to control.
A similar tool to a rasp is a surform file; it has coarse, individual teeth like a rasp for cutting wood. The difference being that the surform has a small hole near each of the teeth to allow shavings to pass through and prevent clogging. Surform tools come in different styles and shapes including file-plane, round file and shaping/shaving tools.
According to: New Expanded Webster's Dictionary 1991 Edition Published by P.S.I. & Associates, Inc Miami, FL
The Definition for "Rasp" is as Follows:
"Rasp, vt. To rub with something rough; to grate; to utter harshly.-vi. To rub or grate.-n. A caorse file; a raspberry."
RASP can also be an acronym for "Random Access Stored Program Machine" (Elgot && Robinson, 1964), a model that is similar to a register machine.
