Chapter 1

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Version published 1913

by the C. & G. Merriam Co. Springfield, Mass. Under the direction of Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.

R.

R (är). R, the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is sometimes called a semivowel, and a liquid. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178, 179, and 250-254. "R is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound." B. Jonson.

In words derived from the Greek language the letter h is generally written after r to represent the aspirated sound of the Greek "r, but does not affect the pronunciation of the English word, as rhapsody, rhetoric.

The English letter derives its form from the Greek through the Latin, the Greek letter being derived from the Phœnician, which, it is believed, is ultimately of Egyptian origin. Etymologically, R is most closely related to l, s, and n; as in bandore, mandole; purple, L. purpura; E. chapter, F. chapitre, L. capitulum; E. was, were; hare, G. hase; E. order, F. ordre, L. ordo, ordinis; E. coffer, coffin.

The three Rs, a jocose expression for reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmetic, -- the fundamentals of an education.

Ra (rä), n. A roe; a deer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ra-. A prefix, from the Latin re and ad combined, coming to us through the French and Italian. See Re-, and Ad-.

Raash (räsh), n. [Cf. Ar. ra'ash trembling, tremor.] (Zoöl.) The electric catfish. [Written also raasch.]

Rab (rb), n. A rod or stick used by masons in mixing hair with mortar.

Rab"at (rb"t), n. [See Rabot.] A polishing material made of potter's clay that has failed in baking.

Ra*bate" (r*bt"), v. t. [F. rabattre to beat down; pref. re- + abattre. See Abate, and cf. Rebate, v.] (Falconry) To recover to the fist, as a hawk. [Obs.]

Rab"a*tine (rb"*tn), n. [See Rabato.] A collar or cape. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.

Ra*ba"to (r*b"t), n. [F. rabat, fr. rabattre. See Rabate.] A kind of ruff for the neck; a turned-down collar; a rebato. [Obs.] Shak.

Rab*bate" (rb*bt"), v. t. [See Rabate.] To abate or diminish. [Obs.] -- n. Abatement. [Obs.]

Rab"bet (rb"bt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rabbeting.] [F. raboter to plane, plane down,rabot a plane; pref. re- re- + OF. abouter, aboter. See Abut, and cf. Rebut.] 1. To cut a rabbet in; to furnish with a rabbet.

2. To unite the edges of, as boards, etc., in a rabbet joint.

Rab"bet, n. [See Rabbet, v., and cf. Rebate, n.]

1. (Carp.) A longitudinal channel, groove, or recess cut out of the edge or face of any body; especially, one intended to receive another member, so as to break or cover the joint, or more easily to hold the members in place; thus, the groove cut for a panel, for a pane of glass, or for a door, is a rabbet, or rebate.

2. Same as Rabbet joint, below.

Rabbet joint (Carp.), a joint formed by fitting together rabbeted boards or timbers; -- called also rabbet. -- Rabbet plane, a joiner's plane for cutting a rabbet. Moxon.

Rab"bi (rb"b or -b; 277), n.; pl. Rabbis (-bz or -bz) or Rabbies. [L., fr. Gr. "rabbi`, Heb. rab my master, from rab master, lord, teacher, akin to Ar. rabb.] Master; lord; teacher; -- a Jewish title of respect or honor for a teacher or doctor of the law. "The gravest rabbies." Milton.

Be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.

Matt. xxiii. 8.

Rab"bin (rb"bn), n. [F.] Same as Rabbi.

{ Rab*bin"ic (rb*bn"k), Rab*bin"ic*al (-*kal), } a. [Cf. F. rabbinique.] Of or pertaining to the rabbins or rabbis, or pertaining to the opinions, learning, or language of the rabbins. "Comments staler than rabbinic." Lowell.

We will not buy your rabbinical fumes.

Milton.

Rab*bin"ic (rb*bn"k), n. The language or dialect of the rabbins; the later Hebrew.

Rab*bin"ic*al*ly, adv. In a rabbinical manner; after the manner of the rabbins.

Rab"bin*ism (rb"bn*z'm), n. [Cf. F. rabbinisme.] 1. A rabbinic expression or phraseology; a peculiarity of the language of the rabbins.

2. The teachings and traditions of the rabbins.

Rab"bin*ist, n. [Cf. F. rabbiniste.] One among the Jews who adhered to the Talmud and the traditions of the rabbins, in opposition to the Karaites, who rejected the traditions.

Rab"bin*ite (-t), n. Same as Rabbinist.

Rab"bit (rb"bt), n. [OE. rabet, akin to OD. robbe, robbeken.] (Zoöl.) Any of the smaller species of the genus Lepus, especially the common European species (Lepus cuniculus), which is often kept as a pet, and has been introduced into many countries. It is remarkably prolific, and has become a pest in some parts of Australia and New Zealand.

The common American rabbit (L. sylvatica) is similar but smaller. See Cottontail, and Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack. The larger species of Lepus are commonly called hares. See Hare.

Angora rabbit (Zoöl.), a variety of the domestic rabbit having long, soft fur. -- Rabbit burrow, a hole in the earth made by rabbits for shelter and habitation. -- Rabbit fish. (Zoöl.) (a) The northern chimæra (Chimæra monstrosa). (b) Any one of several species of plectognath fishes, as the bur fish, and puffer. The term is also locally applied to other fishes. -- Rabbits' ears. (Bot.) See Cyclamen. -- Rabbit warren, a piece of ground appropriated to the breeding and preservation of rabbits. Wright. -- Rock rabbit. (Zoöl.) See Daman, and Klipdas. -- Welsh rabbit, a dish of which the chief constituents are toasted bread and toasted cheese, prepared in various ways. The name is said to be a corruption of Welsh rare bit, but perhaps it is merely a humorous designation.

Rab"bit*ing, n. The hunting of rabbits. T. Hughes.

Rab"bit*ry (-r), n. A place where rabbits are kept; especially, a collection of hutches for tame rabbits.

Rab"ble (rb"b'l), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Iron Manuf.) An iron bar, with the end bent, used in stirring or skimming molten iron in the process of puddling.

Rab"ble, v. t. To stir or skim with a rabble, as molten iron.

Rab"ble, v. i. [Akin to D. rabbelen, Prov. G. rabbeln, to prattle, to chatter: cf. L. rabula a brawling advocate, a pettifogger, fr. rabere to rave. Cf. Rage.] To speak in a confused manner. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Rab"ble, n. [Probably named from the noise made by it (see Rabble, v. i.); cf. D. rapalje rabble, OF. & Prov. F. rapaille.] 1. A tumultuous crowd of vulgar, noisy people; a mob; a confused, disorderly throng.

I saw, I say, come out of London, even unto the presence of the prince, a great rabble of mean and light persons.

Ascham.

Jupiter, Mercury, Bacchus, Venus, Mars, and the whole rabble of licentious deities.

Bp. Warburton.

2. A confused, incoherent discourse; a medley of voices; a chatter.

The rabble, the lowest class of people, without reference to an assembly; the dregs of the people. "The rabble call him ‘lord.'" Shak.

Rab"ble, a. Of or pertaining to a rabble; like, or suited to, a rabble; disorderly; vulgar. [R.] Dryden.

Rab"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Rabbling (-blng).] 1. To insult, or assault, by a mob; to mob; as, to rabble a curate. Macaulay.

The bishops' carriages were stopped and the prelates themselves rabbled on their way to the house.

J. R. Green.

2. To utter glibly and incoherently; to mouth without intelligence. [Obs. or Scot.] Foxe.

3. To rumple; to crumple. [Scot.]

Rab"ble*ment (rb"b'l*ment), n. A tumultuous crowd of low people; a rabble. "Rude rablement." Spenser.

And still, as he refused it, the rabblement hooted.

Shak.

Rab"bler (-blr), n. [See 2d Rabble.] (Mech.) A scraping tool for smoothing metal.

Rab"ble-rout` (-b'l-rout`), n. A tumultuous crowd; a rabble; a noisy throng.

Rab*doid"al (rb*doid"al), a. [Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + -oid + - al.] (Anat.) See Sagittal. [Written also rhabdoidal.]

Rab*dol"o*gy (-dl"*j), n. [Gr. "ra`bdos rod, stick + - logy: cf. F. rabdologie.] The method or art of performing arithmetical operations by means of Napier's bones. See Napier's bones. [Written also rhabdology.]

Rab"do*man`cy (rb"d*mn`s), n. [Gr. "ra`bdos rod + -mancy.] Divination by means of rods or wands. [Written also rhabdomancy.] Sir T. Browne.

Rab"id (rb"d), a. [L. rabidus, from rabere to rave. See Rage, n.] 1. Furious; raging; extremely violent.

The rabid flight Of winds that ruin ships.

Chapman.

2. Extreme, unreasonable, or fanatical in opinion; excessively zealous; as, a rabid socialist.

3. Affected with the distemper called rabies; mad; as, a rabid dog or fox.

4. (Med.) Of or pertaining to rabies, or hydrophobia; as, rabid virus.

Ra*bid"i*ty (r*bd"*t), n. Rabidness; furiousness.

Rab"id*ly (rb"d*l), adv. In a rabid manner; with extreme violence.

Rab"id*ness, n. The quality or state of being rabid.

||Ra"bi*es (r"b*z), n. [L. See Rage, n.] Same as Hydrophobia (b); ||canine madness.

Rab"i*net (rb"*nt), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mil.) A kind of small ordnance formerly in use. [Written also rabanet.] Ainsworth.

Ra"bi*ous (r"b*s), a. Fierce. [Obs.] Daniel.

Ra"bot (r"bt), n. [F.] A rubber of hard wood used in smoothing marble to be polished. Knight.

||Ra"ca (r"k), a. [Gr. "raka`, from Chaldee rk.] A term of reproach ||used by the Jews of our Savior's time, meaning "worthless."

Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council.

Matt. v. 22.

||Ra`ca`hout" (r`k`"), n. [F. racahout, probably fr. Ar. rqaut.] A ||preparation from acorns used by the Arabs as a substitute for ||chocolate, and also as a beverage for invalids.

Rac*coon" (rk*kn"), n. [F. raton, prop., a little rat, fr. rat rat, perhaps of German origin. See Rat.] (Zoöl.) A North American nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) allied to the bears, but much smaller, and having a long, full tail, banded with black and gray. Its body is gray, varied with black and white. Called also coon, and mapach.

Raccoon dog (Zoöl.), the tanate. -- Raccoon fox (Zoöl.), the cacomixle.

Race (rs), v. t. To raze. [Obs.] Spenser.

<! p. 1182 pr=vmg !>

Race (rs), n. [OF. raïz, L. radix, -icis. See Radix.] A root. "A race or two of ginger." Shak.

Race ginger, ginger in the root, or not pulverized.

Race, n. [F. race; cf. Pr. & Sp. raza, It. razza; all from OHG. reiza line, akin to E. write. See Write.]

1. The descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people, or nation, believed or presumed to belong to the same stock; a lineage; a breed.

The whole race of mankind.

Shak.

Whence the long race of Alban fathers come.

Dryden.

Naturalists and ethnographers divide mankind into several distinct varieties, or races. Cuvier refers them all to three, Pritchard enumerates seven, Agassiz eight, Pickering describes eleven. One of the common classifications is that of Blumenbach, who makes five races: the Caucasian, or white race, to which belong the greater part of the European nations and those of Western Asia; the Mongolian, or yellow race, occupying Tartary, China, Japan, etc.; the Ethiopian, or negro race, occupying most of Africa (except the north), Australia, Papua, and other Pacific Islands; the American, or red race, comprising the Indians of North and South America; and the Malayan, or brown race, which occupies the islands of the Indian Archipelago, etc. Many recent writers classify the Malay and American races as branches of the Mongolian. See Illustration in Appendix.

2. Company; herd; breed.

For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds.

Shak.

3. (Bot.) A variety of such fixed character that it may be propagated by seed.

4. Peculiar flavor, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavor; smack. "A race of heaven." Shak.

Is it [the wine] of the right race ?

Massinger.

5. Hence, characteristic quality or disposition. [Obs.]

And now I give my sensual race the rein.

Shak.

Some . . . great race of fancy or judgment.

Sir W. Temple.

Syn. -- Lineage; line; family; house; breed; offspring; progeny; issue.

Race, n. [OE. ras, res, rees, AS. rs a rush, running; akin to Icel. rs course, race. &radic;118.] 1. A progress; a course; a movement or progression.

2. Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running.

The flight of many birds is swifter than the race of any beasts.

Bacon.

3. Hence: The act or process of running in competition; a contest of speed in any way, as in running, riding, driving, skating, rowing, sailing; in the plural, usually, a meeting for contests in the running of horses; as, he attended the races.

The race is not to the swift.

Eccl. ix. 11.

I wield the gauntlet, and I run the race.

Pope.

4. Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life.

My race of glory run, and race of shame.

Milton.

5. A strong or rapid current of water, or the channel or passage for such a current; a powerful current or heavy sea, sometimes produced by the meeting of two tides; as, the Portland Race; the Race of Alderney.

6. The current of water that turns a water wheel, or the channel in which it flows; a mill race.

The part of the channel above the wheel is sometimes called the headrace, the part below, the tailrace.

7. (Mach.) A channel or guide along which a shuttle is driven back and forth, as in a loom, sewing machine, etc.

Race cloth, a cloth worn by horses in racing, having pockets to hold the weights prescribed. -- Race course. (a) The path, generally circular or elliptical, over which a race is run. (b) Same as Race way, below. -- Race cup, a cup given as a prize to the victor in a race. -- Race glass, a kind of field glass. -- Race horse. (a) A horse that runs in competition; specifically, a horse bred or kept for running races. (b) A breed of horses remarkable for swiftness in running. (c) (Zoöl.) The steamer duck. (d) (Zoöl.) A mantis. -- Race knife, a cutting tool with a blade that is hooked at the point, for marking outlines, on boards or metals, as by a pattern, -- used in shipbuilding. -- Race saddle, a light saddle used in racing. -- Race track. Same as Race course (a), above. -- Race way, the canal for the current that drives a water wheel.

Race, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raced (rst); p. pr. & vb. n. Racing (r"sng).] 1. To run swiftly; to contend in a race; as, the animals raced over the ground; the ships raced from port to port.

2. (Steam Mach.) To run too fast at times, as a marine engine or screw, when the screw is lifted out of water by the action of a heavy sea.

Race, v. t. 1. To cause to contend in a race; to drive at high speed; as, to race horses.

2. To run a race with.

Ra*ce"mate (r*s"mt), n. (Chem.) A salt of racemic acid.

Rac`e*ma"tion (rs`*m"shn), n. [L. racematio a gleaning, fr. racemari to glean, racemus a cluster of grapes. See Raceme.] 1. A cluster or bunch, as of grapes. Sir T. Browne.

2. Cultivation or gathering of clusters of grapes. [R.] Bp. Burnet.

Ra*ceme" (r*sm"; 277), n. [L. racemus a bunch of berries, a cluster of grapes. See Raisin.] (Bot.) A flower cluster with an elongated axis and many one-flowered lateral pedicels, as in the currant and chokecherry.

Compound raceme, one having the lower pedicels developed into secondary racemes.

Ra*cemed" (r*smd"), a. (Bot.) Arranged in a raceme, or in racemes.

Ra*ce"mic (r*s"mk), a. [Cf. F. racémique. See Raceme.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found in many kinds of grapes. It is also obtained from tartaric acid, with which it is isomeric, and from sugar, gum, etc., by oxidation. It is a sour white crystalline substance, consisting of a combination of dextrorotatory and levorotatory tartaric acids. Gregory.

Rac`e*mif"er*ous (rs`*mf"r*s), a. [L. racemifer bearing clusters; racemus cluster + ferre to bear: cf. F. racémifère.] (Bot.) Bearing racemes, as the currant.

Ra*cem"i*form (r*sm"*fôrm), a. Having the form of a raceme. Gray.

Rac"e*mose` (rs"*ms`), a. [L. racemosus full of clusters.] Resembling a raceme; growing in the form of a raceme; as, (Bot.) racemose berries or flowers; (Anat.) the racemose glands, in which the ducts are branched and clustered like a raceme. Gray.

Rac"e*mous (rs"*ms or r*s"-; 277), a. [Cf. F. racémeux.] See Racemose.

Rac"e*mule (rs"*ml), n. (Bot.) A little raceme.

Ra*cem"u*lose` (r*sm"*ls`), a. (Bot.) Growing in very small racemes.

Ra"cer (r"sr), n. 1. One who, or that which, races, or contends in a race; esp., a race horse.

And bade the nimblest racer seize the prize.

Pope.

2. (Zoöl.) The common American black snake.

3. (Mil.) One of the circular iron or steel rails on which the chassis of a heavy gun is turned.

{ Rach, Rache (rch) }, n. [AS. ræcc; akin to Icel. rakki.] (Zoöl.) A dog that pursued his prey by scent, as distinguished from the greyhound. [Obs.]

||Ra`chi*al"gi*a (r`k*l"j*), n. [NL., fr. Gr. "ra`chis backbone + ||'a`lgos pain.] (Med.) A painful affection of the spine; especially, ||Pott's disease; also, formerly, lead colic.

Ra*chid"i*an (r*kd"*an), a. [See Rachis.] (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the rachis; spinal; vertebral. Same as Rhachidian.

||Ra*chil"la (r*kl"l), n. [NL.] (Bot.) Same as Rhachilla.

Ra"chi*o*dont (r"k**dnt), a. (Zoöl.) Same as Rhachiodont.

||Ra"chis (r"ks), n.; pl. E. Rachises (-z), L. Rachides (rk"*dz). [NL., ||fr. Gr. "ra`chis, -ios.] [Written also rhachis.] 1. (Anat.) The ||spine; the vertebral column.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Same as Rhachis.

Ra*chit"ic (r*kt"k), a. [Cf. F. rachitique. See Rachitis.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to rachitis; affected by rachitis; rickety.

||Ra*chi"tis (r*k"ts), n. [NL., fr. Gr. "rachi^tis (sc. nosos), fr. ||"ra`chis, -ios, the spine.] [Written also rhachitis.] 1. (Med.) ||Literally, inflammation of the spine, but commonly applied to the ||rickets. See Rickets.

2. (Bot.) A disease which produces abortion in the fruit or seeds. Henslow.

Ra"chi*tome (r"k*tm), n. [F., fr. Gr. "ra`chis, - ios, the spine + te`mnein to cut.] A dissecting instrument for opening the spinal canal. [Written also rachiotome.]

Ra"cial (r"shal), a. Of or pertaining to a race or family of men; as, the racial complexion.

Ra"ci*ly (r"s*l), adv. In a racy manner.

Ra"ci*ness (r"s*ns), n. The quality of being racy; peculiar and piquant flavor.

The general characteristics of his [Cobbett's] style were perspicuity, unequaled and inimitable; . . . a purity always simple, and raciness often elegant.

London Times.

Ra"cing (r"sng), a. & n. from Race, v. t. & i.

Racing crab (Zoöl.), an ocypodian.

Rack (rk), n. Same as Arrack.

Rack, 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.

Rack, n. [See Wreck.] A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.]

Rack and ruin, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.] -- To go to rack, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] "All goes to rack." Pepys.

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

The winds in the upper region, which move the clouds above, which we call the rack, . . . pass without noise.

Bacon.

And the night rack came rolling up.

C. Kingsley.

Rack, v. i. To fly, as vapor or broken clouds.

Rack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Racked (rkt); 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.

Rack, n. A fast amble.

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

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.

Rack vintage, wine cleansed and drawn from the lees. Cowell.

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. &radic;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.

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 (rk), 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.

To rack one's brains or wits, to exert them to the utmost for the purpose of accomplishing something.

Syn. -- To torture; torment; rend; tear.

Rack"a*bones` (rk"*bnz`), n. A very lean animal, esp. a horse. [Colloq. U. S.]

Rack"er (rk"r), n. 1. One who racks.

2. A horse that has a racking gait.

Rack"et (rk"t), n. [F. raquette; cf. Sp. raqueta, It. racchetta, which is perhaps for retichetta, and fr. L. rete a net (cf. Reticule); or perh. from the Arabic; cf. Ar. rha the palm of the hand (used at first to strike the ball), and OF. rachette, rasquette, carpus, tarsus.] [Written also racquet.] 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.