| rack | 1. An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending, retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically: 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) An instrument for bending a bow. A grate on which bacon is laid. A frame or device of various construction for holding, and preventing the waste of, hay, grain, 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 wood, having several sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; called also rack block. Also, a frame to hold shot. <chemical> A frame or table on which ores are separated or washed. A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or grain on the stalk, or other bulky loads. A distaff. 2. <mechanics> 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. Mangle rack. <machinery> See Mangle. Rack block. 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. 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: Probably 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 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. <chemical> 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 Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| racket | 1. A thin strip of wood, having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, across which a network of catgut or cord is stretched. It is furnished with a handle, and is used for catching or striking a ball in tennis and similar games. "Each one [of the Indians] has a bat curved like a crosier, and ending in a racket." (Bancroft) 2. A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; chiefly in the plural. 3. A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood. 4. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man horse, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground. Racket court, a court for playing the game of rackets. Origin: F. Raquette; cf. Sp. Raquets, It. Racchetta, which is perhaps for retichetta, and fr. L. Rete a net (cf. Reticule); or perh. From the Arabic; cf. Ar. Raha the palm of the hand (used at first to strike the ball), and OF. Rachette, rasquette, carpus, tarsus Alternative forms: racquet. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| racket amputation | A circular or slightly oval amputation, in which a long incision is made in the axis of the limb. (05 Mar 2000) |
| racket nail | A broad flat thumbnail resulting from a congenital shorter and wider distal phalanx of the thumb. (05 Mar 2000) |
| racket-tall | <ornithology> Any one of several species of humming birds of the genus Steganura, having two of the tail feathers very long and racket-shaped. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| racket-talled | <zoology> Having long and spatulate, or racket-shaped, tail feathers. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |