rack

rack
{{11}}rack (n.1) "frame with bars," c.1300, possibly from M.Du. rec "framework," related to recken "stretch out," cognate with O.E. reccan "to stretch out," from P.Gmc. *rakjanan (Cf. O.N. rekja, O.Fris. reza, O.H.G. recchen, Ger. recken, Goth. uf-rakjan "to stretch out"). Meaning "instrument of torture" first recorded mid-15c. (verb meaning "to torture on the rack" is from early 15c.), perhaps from Ger. rackbank, originally an implement for stretching leather, etc. Figurative sense of "agony" is from 1590s. Mechanical meaning "toothed bar" is from 1797 (see PINION (Cf. pinion)). Meaning "set of antlers" is first attested 1945, American English; hence slang sense of "a woman's breasts" (especially if large), by 1991. Off the rack in reference to clothing is from 1951.
{{12}}rack (n.2) "gait of a horse," 1520s (implied in racking), perhaps from Fr. racquassure "racking of a horse in his pace," of unknown origin. Or perhaps a variant of ROCK (Cf. rock) (v.1).
{{12}}rack (n.3) "clouds driven before the wind," c.1300, also "rush of wind, collision, crash," possibly from O.E. racu "cloud," reinforced by O.N. rek "wreckage, jetsam," or by influence of O.E. wræc "something driven." Originally a northern word, perhaps from an unrecorded Scandinavian cognate of O.E. racu. Often confused with WRACK (Cf. wrack) (q.v.), especially in phrase rack and ruin (1590s). The distinction is that rack is "driven clouds;" wrack is "seaweed cast up on shore."
{{13}}rack (v.) "to sleep," teen-ager slang, 1960s, from RACK (Cf. rack) (n.1) (rack was Navy slang for "bed" in 1940s). Related: Racked; racking. Rack up "register accumulate, achieve" is first attested 1943 (in "Billboard"), probably from method of keeping score in pool halls.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • rack — rack …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • 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. ore gein.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rack — may refer to: People * Rack (Buffyverse) * Reinhard Rack, an Austrian politician Kinds of racks * Rack (torture device) * Rack (billiards) * 19 inch rack, a system for mounting electronic modules * Amp rack, short for amplifier rack, a piece of… …   Wikipedia

  • rack — [ rak ] n. m. • 1954; mot angl. « râtelier; étagère » ♦ Anglic. Électron. Tiroir destiné à recevoir des sous ensembles électroniques qui doivent être montés dans une baie (2., 2o). ● rack nom masculin (anglais rack, râtelier) Meuble de rangement… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • rack — rack1 [rak] n. [ME racke < LowG rack < IE * rek , to project, bar > ROCK2] 1. a framework, grating, case, stand, etc. for holding or displaying various things [clothes rack, dish rack, pipe rack, bomb rack]: often used in combination:… …   English World dictionary

  • Rack — (r[a^]k), 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. [1913 Webster] He was racked and miserably… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rack — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Rack (desambiguación). Fotografía de un Rack. Un rack es un bastidor destinado a alojar equipamiento electrónico, informático y de comunicaciones. Sus medidas están …   Wikipedia Español

  • Rack — 〈[ ræ̣k] n. 15〉 Regal, Gestell (bes. für Stereoanlagen) [engl.] * * * Rack [rɛk , engl.: ræk], das; s, s [engl. rack = Regal, Gestell]: regalartiges Gestell zur Unterbringung von Elementen einer Stereoanlage. * * * I Rack   das, s/ s …   Universal-Lexikon

  • rack — Ⅰ. rack [1] ► NOUN 1) a framework for holding or storing things. 2) a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something. 3) (the rack) historical an instrument of torture consisting… …   English terms dictionary

  • Rack — Rack, n. [See {Wreck}.] A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.] [1913 Webster] {Rack and ruin}, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.] {To go to rack}, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] All goes to rack. Pepys. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rack — [ræk] verb rack up something to succeed in getting a large amount of something, especially profits, sales, or debts: • His last movie managed to rack up $75 million at the box office. • Somehow he managed to rack up debts of £80,000 …   Financial and business terms

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