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.
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. (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.
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.
3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
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.
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. Rack
(Rack) 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.
He was racked and miserably tormented.
Foxe. 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 their rents an ace too high.
Gascoigne.
Grant that I may never 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. (Mining) To wash on a rack, as metals or ore.
5. (Naut.) To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns of yarn, marline, etc.