1. An
instrument or
frame used for stretching, extending, retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically: An
motor of torture, consisting of a
big frame,
upon which the
body was gradually stretched before, 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
represent into the Tower, and was occasionally used
under the
plea of political necessity." (Macaulay)
An
instrument for bending a bow.
A
grate on which
bacon is laid.
A
frame or
device of different construction for holding, and preventing the
waste of, hay, corn, etc, supplied to beasts.
A
frame on which articles are deposited for
keeping or arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a
bottle rack, etc.
A
piece or
frame of tree, having different sheaves,
through which the
running rigging passes; called
also rack block. Also, a
frame to
keep shot.
A frame or table on which ores are separated or washed.
A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or corn on the stalk, or another bulky loads.
A distaff.
2. A bar with teeth on its person, 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. Mangle rack.
See Mangle. Rack block.
A toothed rack, laid as a rail, to afford a keep 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 excellent at another's expense. 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)
Origin: Perhaps fr. D.rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to stretch; akin to G. Reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to stretch, Dan. Raekke, Sw. Racka, Icel. Rekja to spread out, Goth. Refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. Porrigere, Gr. Cf. Right, Ratch.
1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an motor 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. To wash on a rack, as metals or ore.
5. 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.
Synonym: To torture, torment, rend, tear.
Source: Websters Vocabulary