rack

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A frame or shelf for holding or hanging things.

   He hung his wet coat on the rack by the door.

2. 2
   verb

   To cause someone great physical or mental pain.

   She racked her brains trying to remember his name.

3. 3
   noun

   A device once used to torture people by stretching their bodies.

   Prisoners were tortured on the rack during that cruel period.

From Middle English reken, from Old Norse reka (“to be drifted, tost”) The noun is from Middle English rak, rakke, from Middle English rek (“drift; thing tossed ashore; jetsam”), from the verb.

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