n. [ Probably fr. D. rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to stretch; akin to G. reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to stretch, Dan. række, Sw. räcka, Icel. rekja to spread out, Goth. refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. porrigere, Gr. 'ore`gein. √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 ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Racked p. pr. & vb. n. Racking. ] [ See Rack that which stretches, or Rock, v. ] To amble fast, causing a rocking or swaying motion of the body; to pace; -- said of a horse. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Arrack. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. fr. Icel. rek drift, motion, and akin to reka to drive, and E. wrack, wreck. √282. ] Thin, flying, broken clouds, or any portion of floating vapor in the sky. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The winds in the upper region, which move the clouds above, which we call the rack, . . . pass without noise. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the night rack came rolling up. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. OF. vin raqué wine squeezed from the dregs of the grapes. ] To draw off from the lees or sediment, as wine. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is in common practice to draw wine or beer from the lees (which we call racking), whereby it will clarify much the sooner. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rack vintage, wine cleansed and drawn from the lees. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fly, as vapor or broken clouds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A fast amble. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

n. [ AS. hracca neck, hinder part of the head; cf. AS. hraca throat, G. rachen throat, E. retch. ] The neck and spine of a fore quarter of veal or mutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 tormented. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To torment; to torture; to affect with extreme pain or anguish. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vaunting aloud but racked with deep despair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To stretch or strain, in a figurative sense; hence, to harass, or oppress by extortion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The landlords there shamefully rack their tenants. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

They [ landlords ] rack their rents an ace too high. Gascoigne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grant that I may never rack a Scripture simile beyond the true intent thereof. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Try what my credit can in Venice do;
That shall be racked even to the uttermost. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mining) To wash on a rack, as metals or ore. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Naut.) To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns of yarn, marline, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

To rack one's brains or
To rack one's brains out or
To rack one's wits, to exert one's thinking processes to the utmost for the purpose of accomplishing something; as, I racked my brains out trying to find a way to solve the problem. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Syn. -- To torture; torment; rend; tear. [ 1913 Webster ]