rack etymology

Etymology

• Middle English: rake, from Old English: racu, meaning "heap, pile, ridge"
• Proto-Germanic: *rakō, meaning "heap, pile"
• Proto-Indo-European: *h₃rek-, meaning "to gather, collect"

Meaning

• A frame or structure for storing or drying various items, such as hay, wood, or tools.
• A long-handled tool with a perforated head used for removing leaves, debris, or snow from a surface.
• A type of torture device consisting of a metal or wooden frame with spikes used to stretch or tear the body.
• A device used in card games to hold and arrange the cards.
• A slang term for a thin, tall person.

Origin

The word "rack" originates from the Old English word racu, which originally referred to a heap or pile of something. The word evolved to mean a framework used for holding objects, such as hay or wood, and eventually to the specific tools and devices we know today.

The use of "rack" as a torture device dates back to the Middle Ages, when various types of racks were employed to extract confessions or punish prisoners. The term "rack" can also be found in the context of card games, where it refers to a frame or set of slots used to hold and organize playing cards.

rack relate terms

• pinion

  Etymology Middle English pinyoun from Old French pignon from Latin pinio meaning

• rock

  Etymology The word rock originates from the Old English word rocc which meant a la

• rock

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• rocking

  Etymology and Meaning The word rocking has its roots in the Old English word roccian

• urge

  Etymology Early 16th century from Late Latin urgere to press push drive from the

• wrack

  Etymology The word wrack originates from the Old English word wræc meaning wrecka

• wreak

  Etymology The verb wreak comes from the Middle English word wreken which in turn

• manger

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French mangier from Late Latin manducare to c

• torment

  Etymology Old French tormenter Latin tormentum Greek tormén instrument of to

• torment

  Etymology Old French tormenter Latin tormentum Greek tormén instrument of to

• barbecue

  Etymology Barbacoa Spanish Meaning and Origin The word barbecue originated from

• wheel

  Etymology Middle English whele from Old English hwēol Proto Germanic hwihwlą Prot

• wring

  Etymology Old English wringan Middle Low German wringen Proto Germanic wringaną