Rack \Rack\, n. [Probably fr. D. rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to
stretch; akin to G. reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to
stretch, Dan. r[ae]kke, Sw. r["a]cka, Icel. rekja to spread
out, Goth. refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. porrigere, Gr. ?.
? Cf. Right, a., Ratch.]
1. An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending,
retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically:
(a) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame,
upon which the body was gradually stretched until,
sometimes, the joints were dislocated; -- formerly
used judicially for extorting confessions from
criminals or suspected persons.
During the troubles of the fifteenth century, a
rack was introduced into the Tower, and was
occasionally used under the plea of political
necessity. --Macaulay.
(b) An instrument for bending a bow.
(c) A grate on which bacon is laid.
(d) A frame or device of various construction for holding,
and preventing the waste of, hay, grain, etc.,
supplied to beasts.
(e) A frame on which articles are deposited for keeping or
arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a bottle
rack, etc.
(f) (Naut.) A piece or frame of wood, having several
sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; --
called also rack block. Also, a frame to hold shot.
(g) (Mining) A frame or table on which ores are separated
or washed.
(h) A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or
grain on the stalk, or other bulky loads.
(i) A distaff.
2. (Mech.) A bar with teeth on its face, or edge, to work
with those of a wheel, pinion, or worm, which is to drive
it or be driven by it.
3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.]
--Sir E. Sandys.
Mangle rack. (Mach.) See under Mangle. n.
Rack block. (Naut.) See def. 1
(f), above.
Rack lashing, a lashing or binding where the rope is
tightened, and held tight by the use of a small stick of
wood twisted around.
Rack rail (Railroads), a toothed rack, laid as a rail, to
afford a hold for teeth on the driving wheel of locomotive
for climbing steep gradients, as in ascending a mountain.
Rack saw, a saw having wide teeth.
Rack stick, the stick used in a rack lashing.
To be on the rack, to suffer torture, physical or mental.
To live at rack and manger, to live on the best at
another's expense. [Colloq.]
To put to the rack, to subject to torture; to torment.
A fit of the stone puts a kingto the rack, and makes
him as miserable as it does the meanest subject.
--Sir W.
Temple.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|
Rack \Rack\, n. [Prob. fr. Icel. rek drift, motion, and akin to
reka to drive, and E. wrack, wreck. ?.]
Thin, flying, broken clouds, or any portion of floating vapor
in the sky. --Shak.
The winds in the upper region, which move the clouds
above, which we call the rack, . . . pass without
noise. --Bacon.
And the night rack came rolling up. --C. Kingsley.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|
Rack \Rack\, v. t.
1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or
strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to
torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the
joints.
He was racked and miserably tormented. --Pope.
2. To torment; to torture; to affect with extreme pain or
anguish.
Vaunting aloud but racked with deep despair.
--Milton.
3. To stretch or strain, in a figurative sense; hence, to
harass, or oppress by extortion.
The landlords there shamefully rack their tenants.
--Spenser.
They [landlords] rack a Scripture simile beyond the
true intent thereof. --Fuller.
Try what my credit can in Venice do; That shall be
racked even to the uttermost. --Shak.
4. (Mining) To wash on a rack, as metals or ore.
5. (Naut.) To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns
of yarn, marline, etc.
To rack one's brains or wits, to exert them to the utmost
for the purpose of accomplishing something.
Syn: To torture; torment; rend; tear.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|