rack

I. noun Etymology: Middle English rak rain cloud, rapid movement Date: 14th century a wind-driven mass of high often broken clouds II. intransitive verb Date: 1590 to fly or scud in high wind III. noun Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; akin to Old English reccan to stretch, Greek oregein — more at right Date: 14th century 1. a framework for holding fodder for livestock 2. an instrument of torture on which a body is stretched 3. a. (1) a cause of anguish or pain (2) acute suffering b. the action of straining or wrenching 4. a framework, stand, or grating on or in which articles are placed 5. a. a bar with teeth on one face for gearing with a pinion or worm gear to transform rotary motion to linear motion or vice versa (as in an automobile steering mechanism) b. a notched bar used as a ratchet to engage with a pawl, click, or detent 6. a pair of antlers 7. a triangular frame used to set up the balls in a pool game; also the balls as set up 8. bed, sack • rackful noun IV. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to torture on the rack 2. to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin <

racked with jealousy

> <

a company racked by infighting

> 3. a. to stretch or strain violently <

racked his brains

> b. to raise (rents) oppressively c. to harass or oppress with high rents or extortions 4. to work or treat (material) on a rack 5. to work by a rack and pinion or worm so as to extend or contract <

rack a camera

> 6. to seize (as parallel ropes of a tackle) together 7. to place (as pool balls) in a rack intransitive verb to become forced out of shape or out of plumb Synonyms: see afflict • racker noun • rackingly adverb V. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English rakken, from Old French (Norman & Picard dialect) reequier, probably from Late Latin reaedificare to rebuild, repair, improve, from Latin re- + aedificare to build — more at edify Date: 15th century to draw off (as wine) from the lees VI. intransitive verb Etymology: probably alteration of 1rock Date: 1530 of a horse to go at a rack VII. noun Date: 1580 either of two gaits of a horse: a. pace 4b b. a fast showy 4-beat gait VIII. noun Etymology: perhaps from 3rack Date: 1570 1. the neck and spine of a forequarter of veal, pork, or especially mutton 2. the rib section of a lamb's forequarters used for chops or as a roast — see lamb illustration IX. noun Etymology: alteration of wrack Date: 1592 destruction <

rack and ruin

>