rack

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 ]