Rack

Rack
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. [root]115. 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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster] (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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.] --Sir E. Sandys. [1913 Webster]

{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 a 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. [1913 Webster]

A fit of the stone puts a king to the rack, and makes him as miserable as it does the meanest subject. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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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